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Playing
political games in park? JVP Minister Sunil Handunnetti laid the foundation stone for the project to house the tsunami displaced, who are now living in tents. The construction work is to be carried out under the auspices of the Fisheries ministry, a JVP portfolio. The function, according to residents, turned out to be a propaganda meeting for the JVP. An area JVP activist said the party leadership had decided to make the relief work it carried out public and instructed the rank and file to paste posters. However, residents charged that the poster campaign was kept under wraps till the night before the ceremony. They said they came to know that about the Vystwyke Park temporary housing project only on the day of the ceremony. The residents said they were not allowed to enter the playground, which was guarded by the army. M. Musheen, a resident, said about 10 schools used the playground and it was the only park they had for recreation. "We feel for the displaced people. But we want to protect this old park. There is a vacant state land about 200 metres from this playground. Why can't the government use that land? Is it of any use to put up temporary houses in this playground, destroy its beauty and smash the houses later? It's a waste of public money," Mr. Musheen said. Another resident said Colombo Mayor Prasanna Gunawardena had told the meeting that the park would be handed back once the displaced people were given permanent houses. But he could not say as to when it would take place. "This is not the time to think about recreation and leisure. Our priority should be settling the displaced. They are living in huts. When it rains, water comes into the huts. How can they live under these circumstances? It's terrible that these people are not thinking of their brothers and sisters. They must wait a little till the problems are solved," the mayor told The Sunday Times. Mr. Gunawardena said he was discussing with the Urban Development Authority regarding an alternate land for this project. A few hours after the ceremony was over, we witnessed a lorry carrying sand going over the foundation stone, reducing it to powder. The lorry was carrying sand to be used in putting up the temporary wooden houses. |
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