• Yet undecided on exact number of houses

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman said yesterday (22) that the Urban Development Authority (UDA) had agreed to provide an as-yet-undecided number of houses for the Kajeemawatte residents by 10 January 2023.

He further said, speaking to The Morning yesterday, that, “at the moment, the officials assume that around 200 houses could be released. They said that the survey is not yet completed. According to the Kajeemawatte residents, they said that around 250 houses are needed. But, the UDA said that they assume that they can release up to 200 houses. For balance, they have to go through the survey again.”

Rahman noted that he had held a discussion regarding the Kajeemawatte residents and the possibility of providing houses with the UDA Director General yesterday. 

Meanwhile, Rahman told The Morning on Tuesday (20) that residents of Kajeemawatte are still living in community centres and temples, and that therefore, it is important to resolve their issue by providing them with houses. 

“People are suffering, and 20 houses are in inadequate condition for living. Also, we have not seen the report by the relevant committee (appointed by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in the wake of the most recent fire), as it has not been submitted to Parliament. We must know what is in the report. It has been more than two months since the incident took place. I will speak to Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga within this week,” he added. 

He also noted that there was a survey conducted in 2019 by the UDA regarding Kajeemawatte, and that the Government must stick to that survey and provide houses accordingly. 

“But currently, they are not talking about the 2019 survey, and instead, they are saying that just 20 families are eligible for housing under the recent committee report on the fire. It is being told that the others are unauthorised. But the UDA conducted a survey in 2019, and around 40 families were given houses from the Kajeemawatte in the first phase. After the Government changed in 2019, they suddenly stopped providing housing. According to the survey, some 100 houses were allocated. Therefore, I have requested the Government that they must go ahead with the 2019 survey,” he added further. 

Meanwhile, the report of the committee appointed by Premier Gunawardena to look into the frequent fires that erupted at Kajeemawatte was handed over to him on 10 October by the committee's co-chairmen, Colombo District Co-ordinating Committee Chairman and Government MP, Major (Retired) Dr. Pradeep Undugoda, and Colombo District Secretary Pradeep Yasaratne.

A fire erupted at Kajeemawatte in the late hours of 27 September, and a total of 12 fire trucks were deployed to douse the flames. The fire was doused in a joint operation by the fire brigade and the residents of the area. A total of 60 houses had been fully damaged, and another 11 houses had been partially damaged due to the fire. Also, a total of 306 individuals belonging to 75 families, including 200 elders and 106 children had been affected.