PM directs UDA to stop land grabs in the city

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to immediately stop land acquisition activities in the guise of development in the Colombo District as well as forceful evictions and acquisitions. 

A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that UDA Chairman Ranjith Fernando had been further instructed to devise a more humane mechanism, in consultation with Members of Parliament from the area and civil society.



The statement said that during the previous regime, lands were acquired for various purposes by forcefully evicting people. The payment of compensation was conducted irregularly and partially. 

“Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasised that as this Government was more concerned about people’s needs, a more transparent and accountable system should be introduced when dealing with Government and private lands,” the statement added.