The people living in the area where the proposed oil pipeline is laid from Colombo Port to Orugodawatta Oil Terminal should be evacuated only after providing them with permanent shelter, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.
The minister said that any attempts to evacuate the residents from the area without providing them permanent housing could create disputes.
Minister Karunanayake expressed these views during a meeting to discuss the problems of the people who will be affected by the proposed oil pipeline. The meeting was held with the participation of representatives of institutions at the Finance Ministry on Wednesday.
Karunanayake convened the meeting while the representatives of the Department of Sri Lanka Railways, Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Company and Urban Development Authority participated in the discussion.
It was revealed during the meeting that over 130 families will be affected due to the laying of the proposed pipeline and 44 houses have to be completely demolished to pave the way for the new oil pipeline.
Karunanayake said the families of the identified houses should be evacuated from the area to begin the construction only after permanent houses are provided to them.
Railway's General Manager B. A. P. Ariyarathna, Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Managing Director Shehan Senevirathna and Western Provincial Director of the Urban Development Authority S. N. Nissanka and several others participated.
Add new comment