Merged RVDB employees evicted from houses by Mahaweli Authority

42-year-old E.J.A.P Thusantha, a resident in the Embilipitiya area yesterday started a fast-unto-death on a building near the Janadhipathi Vidyalaya in Embilipitiya against the Mahaweli Authority’s decision to evict them from the quarters.

Upali Senaratne, the Secretary to the RVDB Employees’ Rights Organisation attached to the Mahaweli Authority supporting the protester said President Mahinda Rajapaksa who chaired the meeting of the District Coordinating Com-

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ordered the Mahaweli Authority to grant the ownership of the quarters to the employees of the RVDB

EMBILIPITIYA mittee on October 05, 2012 had ordered the Mahaweli Authority to grant the ownership of the quarters to the employees of the River Valleys Development Board (RVDB) who occupied them before they were attached to the Mahaweli Development Board. Mr. Senaratne accused the officials of not implementing the President’s order.

According to him, the Authority has taken action to evict 50 employees of the RVDB from their quarters.

“In July last year, when eleven families were evicted from their quarters, the politicians representing the area referred the is- sue to the President at the District Coordinating Committee. At that point the President ordered the Mahaweli Authority to grant the ownership to the occupants. However, this decision has not been implemented until now inconveniencing the employees concerned” he said.