Families living along railway line asked to quit
Several families living along the Meethotamulla railway line in Kolonnawa have been asked by the Railway Department to demolish their illegal constructions. Meanwhile the people living in the area allege that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has plans to place an additional pipe line in this area as well.
However, they have not received any compensation or been given alternate lands by the Railway Department or CPC as yet. They added that they had received some compensation when they were directed to shift their houses twenty-five feet backwards some time ago.
The affected residents allege that they had been living in the Meethotamulla area for more than 50 years and had electricity connections and water connections registered in their names at the same addresses while paying taxes to the government for several years. However they do not own the land in which the houses had been built. Even though some politicians had promised them financial assistance, these promises had not been kept, they said.
Responding to a question from the Daily Mirror, the Additional Secretary of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation said that the people affected will receive compensation in the future. A senior officer of the Railway Department said unless they vacate the land, they will be taken to court.
By Hemanthi Guruge
Source: Daily Mirror
Tags: financial assistance, illegal constructions, kolonnawa, meethotamulla, petroleum corporation, railway department, railway line
