APARTMENTS BUILT IN CONTRAVENTION TO NHDA REGULATIONS

The Mount Lavinia Residents Association expressed concern about the substandard construction work of housing development projects in Mount Lavinia and the surrounding areas. Treasurer of the Association Ranjith Senanayake told the media that the construction companies had totally ignored the rules and regulations and the standards applicable to the construction work of flats and apartments as indicated in the manual issued by the Housing Development Authority.

He pointed out that substandard construction work of flats created hardship to the residents but the relevant authorities including the Housing Development Authority had totally ignored irregularities of construction companies.

He said the Simon Abeywickrema Mawatha is a six meter wide road and only a four storied flat could be allowed under the rules and regulations.

“However, a ten storied housing scheme has been constructed there and a 15 storied housing scheme on De Alwis Mawatha which is a four metre wide road. This has created inconvenience to the residents living in houses due to the noise, dust and traffic congestion,” he said.

A representative of the Mount Lavinia Residents’ Association Amal Wijemuni said Mount Lavinia with a lovely beach was a world famous tourist destination in the South East Asia, but the ill-planned large scale housing projects had marred the beauty of the area.

“Other residential houses in close proximity to the ill planned flats are endangered with ruin. Several houses have developed wall cracks. Our complaints to the relevant authorities in this regard fall on deaf ears. The local authorities have ignored the irregularities of these construction companies,” he said.

Another member of the association, Deepal Dissanayke said they pointed out the irregularities in housing schemes to the successive governments but to no avail.

“During a meeting with Former Megapolis Minister Champika Ranawaka, he told us that all illplanned housing schemes would be demolished. We inspected 31 flats most of which were not up to the required standards and not in keeping with the approved plan. More than 200 members of the Residents’ Association have been subject to injustice while hundreds of others in Dehiwala and Battaramulla areas have formed separate organizations to fight against similar injustices.” he said.

The Mount Lavinia Residents’ Association requested the Government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resolve the issue.

They requested for compensation for damage caused to the houses and to implement a plan to avoid inconvenience caused to them due to the traffic congestion and the activities of flat dwellers. They stressed the need to streamline the construction works of housing schemes and to prevent ill planned projects.

Several houses have developed wall cracks. Our complaints to the relevant authorities in this regard fall on deaf ears The local authorities appear to be ignoring the irregularities of these construction companies