UDA PROFESSIONALS THREATENED DURING MR’S PERIOD: CHAMPIKA

During former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration Urban Development Authority (UDA) officials had been threatened and sent behind the bars over false allegations, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said.

He said so on Friday (10) while responding to a question made by Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila at the Parliament.

MP Gammanpila’s question to Minister Ranawaka was about the education and professional qualification of UDA project directors, consultants and coordinators.

“A Degree is not much essential when dealing with the General Public. Neither former Presidents Sirimavo Bandaranaike nor D. S. Senanayake had one.

“When Gammanpila was a Provincial Council Minister there were two unqualified people worked for him. Today UDA has to deal with over 22, 000 houses, 25, 000 families and over 100, 000 people.

“As such, we need more people to provide our services. During MR’S period UDA was run with military officers as professionals were sacked,” he said. Minister explained that architect Prasanna Silva was put in jail during the period over a false allegation, while Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) General Manager Shyama Gunawardane was thrown into jail for speaking with his hands in his pockets.

He also said that an authority, where professionals were threatened, chased away and jailed then was now running organized under the consultancy of the professionals that MP Gammanpila defined as unqualified.

“There is nothing we can do for those who cannot bear their jealousy when they see that the UDA is doing well with the mass public support,” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, Minister Ranawaka also had publicized names of ten officials and their education and professional qualifications A degree is not much essential when dealing with the General Public. Neither former Presidents Sirimavo Bandaranaike nor D. S. Senanayake had one following the claims made by MP Gammanpila.

According to the details issued to the media no project directors have been recruited for the UDA between August 18, 2015, and July 31, 2017.

However, the UDA had recruited ten consultants and coordinators on the contract basis, based on education and professional qualifications, he said.