Housing scheme residents complain

Ingiriya Central Group Priyadarshani Kahawala

“As a government, we have earned an in come of US$ One Billion from investors during the previous year. We hope to exceed that amount during the current year,” Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

He was addressing a meeting at the Divisional Secretariat in Horana. The meeting had been organized to discuss several problems that are being faced by residents in Horana and Ingiriya Divisional Secretariats. He said that people had complained against the Investment Zone Horana (BOI).They said that they had to face many problems due to the activities of Horana BOI Zone.

The main complaint had been against the popular housing project in the Horana area. The people who had purchased land and houses from the housing project, had complained that the authorities responsible had promised them many facilities, but had not done so for the past twelve years. The residents said that there was no post office, community hall, security fence, security boundary for floods, medical center, school, pre-school, day care center or play ground, but a tavern had been built close to the temple without any approval. Likewise they had complained that the sewerage system was not up to standard and the drainage too not insufficient in width.

The residents in the Ingiriya Divisional Secretariat, had complained against the BOI that there was a risk due to some activities such as draining of polluted water in to the Kalu Ganga.

After a field visit to this land, the minister had arranged a meeting for a final decision to be taken concerning public problems.

The minister said: “We can't complain of our problems to the investor when he comes to our country. First, we should solve our problems and then try to hand over the land to the investors. But that type of thing had not happened. If we try to push through our needs to the investor, the investor will be demotivated. Then they would refuse to come to our country for investing. On the people's side they can't be silent about their problems. But our responsibility is protecting the investor and likewise find solutions to the problems of the public.” Later the minister granted a two month time period and ordered all relevant authorities to make a study of these problems and provide a complete report to him.

He also said that he wished to end these problems within a period of two years, according to that final report.

Kalutara District Parliamentarian Vidura Wikramanayaka, officers from the BOI, Colombo head office and Horana Zone, Horana Police, the CEB, the Irrigation Department, Pradeshiya Sabha - Horana, Environmental Authority, Divisional Secretaries of Horana and Ingiriya, Indian investors of relevant housing projects, residents and a large number of people had participated.