- Are They Really Getting the Boot?
- July 14, 2008 Filed under: Corruption, Human Rights, People, Politics
Are you kidding me?
I read this story and, while I’m sure this happens more than anyone knows, I found it shocking. What are these people going to do? Really–where are these people going to go? I guess this is really and truly still Slave Island. I know the area and its problems, but is this the solution?
While I’m at it, does anyone have any comments about the source (Colombo Page)? Legit? Sketchy? Let me know.
Maybe I’m not so well informed, which is why I’m relying on you. What am I missing here?
July 15th, 2008 at 1:36 am
I saw something on television with several affected people being interviewed, the story seems to be true.
The place is Glennie Street not Glen street as reported by Colombo Page.
There is a SAARC summit being held in Colombo in a couple of weeks and security is being tightened and this is a part of it. They seem to believe that these dwellings might shelter a potential bomber.
Security trumps everything in SL these days.
July 15th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Actually these families are in land owned by the govt. illigally..there’s nothing wrong with moving them… the only reason they have been there for so long is due to some political connections..
It will be interesting to see how they’ll get pas the security “reason”
July 15th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
But then these people are not the only ones around with problematic titles are they? Plenty of squatters everywhere.
And what about government regulations that mean you can’t throw someone out ifthey have been there for more than 10 years?
July 15th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
That’s a fact Jack…Seriously, where do these people go? As the article I read said, they have been paying taxes and living there for a long time as normal citizens of the country.
I don’t get it.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:11 am
This news report has a few more details
http://www.dailymirror.wijeya.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=20507
They say that some alternative housing has been offered but given that policy is made overnight and the bureaucracy is a mess nothing is likely to be in place.
Colombo is to be virtually closed after next week due to the SAARC summit, vehicles entering the extended high security zone need special passes which, according to announcements, are to be obtained from the Fort police.
When contacted the police claim they know nothing of the scheme of passes or how they are to be issued. They don’t even know exactly what roads will be closed. An email containing the text of a letter specifying which roads will be closed, supposedly issued by the police is all we have to go by. When asked for further clarification about the road closures the police know nothing, not even the details given in the email.
Such is the state of the Kolikuttu Republic.