Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has stated that there will be no permission granted for unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public by being carried out under the guise of a development agenda.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held at the Colombo District Secretariat yesterday (09).
“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk. Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower,” she said.
PM Amarasuriya pointed out that, however, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.
“This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the annual flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district, and the necessary steps are being prepared to implement it accordingly,” she said.
The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.
The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi. (Newswire)