Relief urged for evicted Oliyamulla families

[January 31, 2003 - 10.00 GMT]

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in an open letter to President Chandrika Kumaratunga has urged the Sri Lankan government to provide all 168 families evicted from their homes in Oliyamulla, a village five kilometers north of Colombo, with adequate compensation, reparation and rehabilitation.

“The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) would like to bring your attention to the situation of the 168 families originating from Oliyamulla, in the Wattala Electorate, who, since July 2002, have been facing ongoing violations of their right to adequate housing, along with acts of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment perpetrated by the police,” the letter states.

The letter adds that the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a member of the OMCT network, had informed OMCT that on July 11, 2002 the Urban Development Authority, along with Urban Council officials and the police evicted these 168 families. Bulldozers reportedly demolished the 108 houses where these families were living, giving them only three hours to leave the place. 

The letter adds most of the inhabitants’ belongings were destroyed in the operation as most were away at work, while the children were at school.

The OMCT urged the Government to take the appropriate steps to guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, to identify those responsible, to bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal. [Full Story]

See also: SRI LANKA: Denial of land right; Loss of land and deprivation of livelihood

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Last Updated Date: January 31, 2003  - 10.00 GMT.