Disaster Victims Being Forcibly Evicted from Camps: Lakshman Kiriella

28-Dec-2025

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Former MP of the United People’s Power, Lakshman Kiriella, stated that people displaced by natural disasters in Kandy District are being forcibly evicted from temporary shelters despite not being provided alternative housing.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo on Dec 26, he said over 6,000 people are still living in relief camps across Kandy District, the area most affected by recent natural disasters.

Although 55,804 families were affected, only 32,170 families have received the promised Rs. 25,000 relief payment, while over 23,000 families are yet to receive assistance. Additional promised payments for kitchen equipment and school supplies have not been distributed to any family in the district.

Kiriella said compensation for deaths has also been insufficient and largely unpaid. Currently, 6,636 people from 2,084 families remain in 95 relief camps, many housed in religious institutions, with no homes to return to.

He urged the government to at least provide temporary tents and criticized the National Building Research Organisation for declaring the entire district a red zone without clearly identifying landslide-prone areas.