The Hon. Anura Karunathilaka - Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I table the answer.

¶ 02 Answer tabled:

¶ 03 (a) (i) Yes.

¶ 04 (ii) Of the applicants seeking alternative housing, 116 residents have been removed from the area.

¶ 05 (iii) Of the 116 eligible applicants, 5 are dependent sub-households and do not meet the minimum eligibility for alternative housing. Accordingly, under the “Urban Regeneration Project – City of Colombo,” 111 housing units have been arranged for the 116 applicants.

¶ 06 (iv) Ninety-eight (98). All remaining applicants who are still in the subject land without receiving housing do not meet the minimum eligibility and are in unauthorised occupation.

¶ 07 (v) No.

¶ 08 (vi) Initially 140 applicants were identified for removal and alternative housing. Of them, 116 eligible applicants (including 5 sub-households) have been allocated 111 units. Of the remaining 24, fifteen (15) have already left the subject land; the remaining nine (09) are still in unauthorised occupation and do not meet minimum eligibility, hence cannot be provided alternative housing. Therefore, eviction orders have been issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for these nine applicants.

¶ 09 Separately, Cabinet approval will be sought to appoint a committee to consider applications from homeless persons and to establish a transparent selection method for any future allocations.

¶ 10 (b) The 9 applicants do not meet the minimum eligibility for alternative housing. Considering humanitarian aspects, a grace period has been afforded and advance notice given to vacate before enforcing the eviction orders; enforcement has commenced accordingly.