Residents in the vicinity of high rise buildings left in the lurch

Residents around a high rise building coming up in the Slave Island area are in a dilemma regarding the lack of interest in problems caused by construction materials falling on their homes.

Residents claim that despite, complaints to the police and concerned authorities, no action has been taken to resolve the issue.

They said on an earlier occassion, a few families were given a sum of Rs. of 35,000 each to move away from the site to another location. These persons had found temporary dwellings in the Kolonnawa area.

CMC Councillor N. M. Thaudeen has expressed concern over the plight of the residents living in localities adjacent to the boundary of the high rise construction site.

Residents say no safety precautions have been put in place to guarantee the safety of residents living in the vicinity of the site.

Residents added that "despite 61 families complaining to the police on the dangers posed to life and limb, disturbed sleepless nights due to noise emanating from the site, work progresses unabated, at the site throughout the day and night.

The construction company has completely disregarded police instructions to suspend construction activities at night, said one of the residents who did not wish to be identified. He added that families feared falling construction materials could fall on their homes during the nights

A Hindu priest, M. Sundarasuwamy 53, residing in Glennie Place, Colombo 2 said that two asbestos sheets on the roof of his house had been damaged when an iron rod fell on it. he added the canstruction company subsequently attended to the repairs of his house.

Residents also said, despite the efforts of officers of the Slave Island police station and CMC Councillors attempting to negotiate a deal between the affected parties and the foreign construction company, the problem continues.