Still not out of the floody hell
They were promised relocation, new houses and compensation after the heavy flooding in the Kelanimulla area last year, but their conditions have not changed much.
Some of them have found their own accommodation and left while others live with friends or relatives expecting to find their homes.
Two of the families still live in tents which may not last for many months.
H.A. Susil Priyanka, one of the residents who spent a year in the tent told the Sunday Times only a few tents were near the garbage dump while the rest were situated at a temple in Kelanimulla. He said that the Government gave each resident a tent and a promise of a secure house.
“I have lived here for a year now. Yet, I received no house. During that time, one by one displaced people lost their hopes and went to rent houses.”
He said that both he and his wife had to brave mosquitoes. Water seeps into the tent on rainy days and rats crawl in, too.
He claimed that he lost his furniture and what he currently had, had been donated by private organisations.
“The Government did not spend a penny on me and my wife who lost everything, our dreams of living a happy life was shattered. During the day, it is hot and at night, extremely cold. We are fed up of staying in this place, but we only have this tent,” he said.
K. Gunathilakan who lives in Kelanimulla said that the Government last year promised many solutions for the flood victims but there has been no support.
He said that many officials visited them from time to time and told him he would be provided with Rs 15,000 to repair the damage to his house, which had been over eight feet under water.
Mr Gunathilakan who earlier worked as an employee a the National Hospital said that he lost his furniture, television and household items but the Government had not paid compensation.
“Disaster Management officials and representatives of the Valuation Department came to collect information, but we are yet to receive any Government support,” he said.
Another resident of the same area, Sunimal Shantha, said that some of the wooden houses were swept away by the flood waters last year. He said that the Government didn’t provide compensation for the houses which were damaged.
“Rs. 15,000 compensation had been proposed. It has to be given but my house underwent more damage including severe damage to the roof,” he said. Ariyaratne Gunathilaka, said that she and her mother left their house leaving behind valuable furniture during May 15.
“When the water receded my house had pockets of water remaining in the living room. My couch was destroyed. All the chairs had been floating in the house and were damaged,’’ she said.
She claimed that the government officials told her that they will provide her a mattress, mosquito net and other household items as well as furniture.
Ms Gunathilaka said that in the first six months she waited for the government to pay compensation for the damage to the house and furniture, yet received nothing.
“I have no electronic household items due to the flood and have no means of providing treats like iced drinks,’’ she said.
She also said that her mother who waited for compensation passed away a few months back. “I am also 67 years old and can not go to local government authorities to demand our compensation money,” she said.
She also explained that the government did not advise her to leave or provide her a house in a safer area. So she requested government assistance to repair her house.
K.G. Kalyani, who also lives in a house close to the Kelaniya river, said she received only a mattress and a mosquito net and that was all.
“My house has lost half of the roofing sheets while the walls have cracked due to the floods,” she said. He TV was destroyed in the flood.
“My son and two brothers had to buy one because we could no longer wait for the Government. The Government has forgotten us already,” she said.