Sri Lanka halts plans to relocate 68,000 families

Sri Lanka's government has appointed a committee to stop removal of 68,000 poor families from Colombo that was planned by the previous administration and provide compensation, an official said here on Friday.

Thousands of families were relocated, sometimes forcibly, by the government of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as part of a massive beautification plan for the capital.

However, the projects are being reevaluated by the new government.

Rajapaksa's brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa functioned as the powerful Defense Ministry Secretary overseeing the plans.

One of the key pledges that brought new President Maithripala Sirisena into power was the promise to promote good governance that includes implementing legal processes when relocating families. "The government has received numerous complaints from the affected people in this process and from those who are concerned about these activities," acting Cabinet spokesman Lakshman Kiriella told reporters.

Therefore, the new government has proposed to appoint a committee comprising the officials of the relevant institutions to investigate into the injustices that have been caused in this resettlement and rehabilitation process, to make suitable recommendations and to expedite payment of compensation to the affected people.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal and accordingly, has decided to appoint another committee comprising three ministers to monitor the investigative committee. Endi