Aggrieved parties are concerned by the appointment of a committee by the Urban Development Authority to inquire into the approval granted for a proposed 40-storey Home Land Pentara apartment complex at Havelock Road, Thummulla in Colombo.
The UDA chairman has named two senior officials as its members.
Noting that subject minister Bimal Ratnayake is known not to tolerate corruption, aggrieved parties alleged this committee has been appointed with the aim of sabotaging future investigations by the minister into the matter.
Area residents protested against the proposed project and then petitioned the president and the prime minister.
The two offices responded by ordering an immediate investigation, as area residents have now decided to take it to courts and reached several president’s counsels for support.
It was only after exposures by Mawrata newspaper and website that other media brought up the matter.
Area residents hope minister Ratnayake would pay attention to the matter once he returns from his ongoing tours of China and Pakistan.
Legal aspects
Thusitha Kumara Kulasingham, a resident of Clayson Place near the site of the proposed project, lodged written complaints with the president and the PM against the conduct of the UDA officials.
She alleged authorities approved a 40-storey construction in excess of the legally-approved limit on the basis of wrong calculations given by the construction company.
The Presidential Secretariat has said the complaint has been referred to the relevant sectors for action.
The PM’s office too, has paid attention to the complaint and referred it to the relevant sectors to enforce the law against any irregularities.
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