35 families were offered land to relocate: Govt.

The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) which identified the area where the landslide occurred as a risk zone, had recommended it to be declared a conservation site after resettling people in alternative lands elsewhere, Parliament was informed yesterday. Making a statement on the disaster, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardane said the NBRO identified it as an area prone for landslides in 2005, and recommended the removal of 75 families and for it to be kept only as a conservation site. The Chief Government Whip said the NBRO even issued a report confirming this situation in 2011, Accordingly, 35 families were provided with alternative lands elsewhere along with assistance for their housing constructions. Yet, he said the recipients had opted to live in the risk zone. Mr. Gunawardame, on behalf the government, conveyed his condolences to the affected families, and said rescue work was in progress with the participation of all stakeholders. Some 330 people of 57 families were affected in the landslides that hit the Meeriyabedda division of the Ampitikanda estate in the Haldummulla Divisional Secretariat Division.