By The residents of Kajeemawatte in Thotalanga in which nearly 75 houses were destroyed fear that they are going to be removed from the area.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has instructed the relevant authorities to look into the possibility of stopping the Urban Development Authority (UDA) from using this piece of land as an intermediate settlement for those awaiting the establishment of permanent residences.
The Premier said that fires have broken out in this area thrice within a period of one and a half years, and asked the UDA to look into the health and safety issues.
Colombo District Secretary Pradeep Yasaratne, said that around 1,000 people live in the 220 houses currently built at this site, adding that most of them are illegal residents.
