News
Burning issues unresolved in Grandpass
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Important issues including possible illegal settlers and the cause of the fire in Grandpass will have to be established before authorities decide on measures to take.
The Kajeemawatta area in Grandpass was engulfed in flames for a third time Tuesday evening, displacing 316 people and 74 families. The fire also destroyed the possessions of at least 54 children.
Authorities are awaiting recommendations of a presidential committee.
The director general of the Urban Development Authority, Mr N P K Ranaweera said: “We could give a house to homeless people who are really affected. We had earlier settled 20 families on our land, and they are eligible for houses.’’
There are many illegal settlers, he said.
“Our wish is to clear all the land at once, carry out development projects, while taking legal action against settlers,” he said.
The Grama Niladhari of the area, Mr Pradeep Perera said the Kajeemawatta settlements are illegal. Those who are displaced now had illegally settled on UDA-owned land, he said.
“Two years back, 60 families were given houses and asked to vacate, however when they vacate the houses their relatives as well as outsiders claim the houses. We informed the UDA,” he said.
Mr Perera has suspicions about the repeat fires and is waiting for the government analyst report.
The first fire broke out on March 25, 2021, the second one was on March 25, and the third happened on Tuesday, September 27.
The officer in charge of the Grandpass police, chief inspector, Tharaka Ruwan Wijesinghe, told the Sunday Times people have been filing complaints about the damage.
“Our investigations are underway. Even though we have asked people to give evidence on how the fire occurred, or if someone set the fire, no one has made such a complaint so far,’’ he said.
Mr Wijesinghe said that rumour has it that fires are started to compel the Government to re-settle them. The government analyst’s report will give some clues as to how it all started.
Colombo District Secretary, Mr Pradeep Yasaratna claimed that the committee would hand over the report to the president within a week, or two.
He said 62 will be given shelter at Muwadora Uyana community center and Kelani Nadee Viharaya at Grandpass, while 12 families are with relatives.
He said he is responsible for disaster assistance and re-settling of people. Mother of two Thuunichini Nurajini, 48, said her house had become a pile of debris.
“I am a household helper and my eldest son is a labourer. We manage with what we earn daily. Everything including my seven year-old son’s school books and clothes were inside,” she said. When she returned home, the son was in tears, she said.
Some had been forced to demolish their houses to stop the fire from spreading.
Laborer Mohomad Anaas, 54, said that although his house, built of wooden planks and tin sheets, was spared, he had to demolish it. The electrical equipment, school books of his children, clothes, as well as his wife’s jewellery had been stolen.
“Two years back also there was a fire and my house was destroyed, then. Before that there was another fire, and I faced a similar situation,” he said.
Daily wage earner, Asath Khan, 42, said the Government should settle them in a safer place.
He admits that some are illegal settlers. When houses are allocated, they allow next of kin, or friends to occupy them, he said.
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