Mews Street house demolition:

Respondents asked to settle matter

The Supreme Court yesterday granted time to the respondents to ascertain the possibility of a settlement in the rights application filed by a group of people against the demolition of their houses along the Mews Street, Colombo 02.

The Bench comprised Justice Ms. Shirani Bandaranayake and Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga.

The Court after hearing both counsel decided to inquire into the alleged rights violation of the petitioners.

Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Shaveendra Fernando appearing for the respondents Urban Development Authority (UDA), the Defence Secretary and the Attorney General moved for time to see whether the possibility of giving alternative houses for the petitioners.

The DSG, however, submitted that he could not guarantee the same lands could be provided to the petitioners.

Counsel J. C. Weliamuna for the petitioners submitted that his clients have lived in the houses demolished by the UDA for decades and preferably would like to have the lands where they used to live.

Sixteen petitioners including M. Rizmiya complained to the Court that the Urban Development Authority (UDA) had demolished their houses on May 08, without providing them with alternative places to live.

The petitioners stated that a UDA official had come on May 04 and asked them to vacate their houses before May 08, and accordingly the houses were demolished on that day, without providing them with alternative houses.

They stated that they are rendered homeless and has no place to live. They added that their children who has been attending to Al Amin Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo 02, are unable to attend their schools.

They stated that they were taken to housing schemes at Dematagoda and Thotalanga by UDA officials but not provided them with alternative places to live before demolishing their houses in violation of their rights.

The petitioners cited UDA, its Director General Prasanna de Silva, Director Lands Abeygunawardane, the Defence Secretary, the Army Commander and the AG as respondents.

The application will be mentioned on July 26.