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Residents demand inquiry against developer constructing on fraudulent letter
View(s):A group of residents in Welikada, Rajagiriya, are calling for an inquiry, after a Right to Information (RTI) request revealed that, a letter issued by an official at the Sri Jayewardenepura-Kotte Municipal Council (S’P-KMC), related to a condominium project, is fraudulent.
They claim that approval was granted for a local condominium project based on the fraudulent letter.
The official had issued a letter to both the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation & Development Corporation (SLLRDC) claiming that, the access road from Buthgamuwa Road to the construction site is a Municipal Road, when in fact, it is a private road where the said residents live.
The residents had filed 3 RTI requests with the UDA, SLLRDC and the S’P-KMC in February, last year. The UDA had sent an acknowledgement but there had been no further communication. The SLLRDC had not even acknowledged the request.
The S’P-KMC however, had submitted the information requested in May last year, revealing that the access road from Buthgamuwa Road had not been declared a public road, and had not been gazetted.
Residents had earlier erected 2 boards on the walls of 2 private residences on the road, stating this is a private road. The Developer had subsequently complained to Welikada Police, whose officers had directed the residents to take down the boards, as it was illegal to display such boards on a Municipal Road. This too had been done based on the letter issued by the said official.
The UDA meanwhile, had also allegedly claimed that the project was granted approval based on information provided by the S’P-KMC official, that the access road from Buthgamuwa Road is a Municipal Road, according to residents.
Residents further charged that the Developer is engaged in unlawful activities in the area, causing severe inconvenience to them, as well as damaging the environment. They claimed that the SLLRDC has granted approval to the Developer and owners of 2 other properties adjoining the canal in the area, to fill and develop their land, despite that fact that, the lands have been designated as floodwater retention lands.
Residents have now lodged complaints with the Welikada Police against the Developer, while a complaint has also been made against the S’P-KMC official for issuing the fraudulent letter.