Lack of foresight a hallmark of this government

by Nazly Cassim

(August 13, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I refer to the nasty incident relating to the demolition of houses at Glennie Street in Slave Island. It was inhuman treatment for those inhabitants who had been there for decades. They were not slaves, but human beings.

It is true that Colombo city has to be developed. In doing so, it may become necessary to demolish certain constructions — especially unauthorised ones. But the people in these houses have to be first provided alternative accommodation.

On the day the demolition was carried out, we saw women and children wailing at the demolition of their houses because they had nowhere else to go. Surely these wails would have reached the gods who are supposed to dwell in the skies. These cries surely would have stired the hearts of politicians, especially those in the opposition, who all the while forget that they too are responsible for this situation.

In many areas in the city of Colombo houses have been built along rail tracks just a few feet away from the track. This type of dangerous living should be prohibited and the government should build houses for these people. The temporary houses being constructed in Thotalanga to relocate Glennie Street residents will soon turn out to be a place spawning disease and death not only to these residents but for everyone living in the vicinity.

Therefore it is necessary that permanent houses — perhaps low cost flats – are constructed for them to live a decent life. Some of those whose houses were broken down were wailing that no proper notice had been given to them.

Surely the government would not have acted in a foolish manner without giving them notice to vacate. But the foolish act of the UDA was in destroying these houses without first completing the construction of alternative houses for these people. The minister in charge should accept the fact that the barbaric action of the UDA was totally unethical.

This letter would not have been written if the eviction was done after alternative accommodation had been provided. Then, those who saw the eviction and the resultant commotion on TV would not have been sad if they had seen the real situation.

The great damage that has been done to the dwellers should serve as a lesson to everyone responsible for this situation and they should settle the matter of alternative accommodation first, before demolition of unauthorised houses in the future.
- Sri Lanka Guardian