Committee to investigate renovations and removals being carried out in the City of Colombo by the Urban Development

Decisions taken at the Cabinet Meeting held on 11th February, 2015

The then Ministry of Defense and Urban Development as a part of a survey carried out in the year 2010 on Metro Rehabilitation Project and other activities of the Colombo City Development, it was started to remove 68,000 families with less- facilities from their original habitats and settle them in various other places. The Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply and Drainage has received numerous complaints from the affected people in this process and from those who are concerned about these activities. Therefore, The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply and Drainage Rauf Hakeem to appoint a committee comprising the officials of the relevant institutions to investigate into the injustices that have been caused in this resettlement and rehabilitation process, to make suitable recommendations and to expedite payment of compensation to the affected people.

It was also decided that in order to ensure that this committee’s appropriate attention is being made to look into the grievances of the affected parties that the activities of this committee should be monitored by another committee comprising the following three Ministers

1. Minister Ravi Karunanayake
2. State Minister Mrs. Rosy Senanayake
3. Deputy Minister Eran Wickremaratne.