Feb 8 (IL) Following the Government’s decision to impose laws which would prohibit the construction of houses/buildings within 100 metre of the coastal belt, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem has emphasized that due to the severe shortage of land in the Kalmunai division, this decision should be suspended exclusively for the Kalmunai division only.
At the second meeting at the Government Agent’s office in Ampara on Saturday, the SLMC leader requested the Government Agent Herath Abeyweera to communicate with higher officials and declare the Kalmunai division as an exclusive zone as far as rebuilding is concerned.
Not a single Government Minister or Parliamentarian was present at the meeting, but other Opposition MPs were present. Due to the absence of Minister Ferial Ashraff, Ampara GA H. Abeyweera presided the meeting. Other MPs present included SLMC leader, Secretary General Hasan Ali, Nijamudeen and Tamil National Alliance MP Pathmanathan.
The Urban Development Authority was also not present at the meeting, but several other State institutions and other agencies carrying out relief work were present.
The Government Agent also informed all those present that he had established several village level committees who have been given over the task of handling the grievances of tsunami affected people, who had for various reasons not been considered as relief recipients.
