COLOMBO (January 22) —
The "Homelands Penthara" housing project in Thummulla has been hit by a major
scandal involving allegations of fraudulent approvals and the potential abuse of political power. As the matter reaches the Court of Appeal, concerns are mounting over whether the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) leadership will succumb to pressure to bypass established urban regulations.
The Core Issue: Height and Access Discrepancies
The controversy centers on the building's height, which was approved based on the premise that the site has access from both High Level Road and Clayson Road. Under Urban Development Authority (UDA) regulations, a wider access road allows for a taller structure.
However, during the court proceedings initiated by the "Maathrubhoomi" organization yesterday (21st), a critical contradiction was exposed. While the UDA granted approval claiming the site has access from Clayson Road, the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) and previous official letters from the CMC explicitly state that access from Clayson Road cannot be permitted. It is alleged that the UDA provided the approval by misrepresenting these facts.
Desperate Maneuvers and Political Pressure
Following the revelations in the Court of Appeal, the management of Homelands is reportedly attempting to "regularize" this illegality. Sources indicate that after a failed attempt to get the UDA to re-validate the access today (22nd), the management was directed to the CMC.
At this moment, the Homelands management is reportedly seeking an audience with the Mayoress to obtain a letter confirming access from Clayson Road. This has raised a red flag: if the Mayoress or the Council provides such a letter now, it would be a direct attempt to validate a factually incorrect claim to subvert a pending judicial inquiry.
A Warning to the CMC and Officials
The "Maathrubhoomi" organization has issued a stern warning to Mayoress Kelly Balthazaar and the CMC officials. They emphasize that any attempt to issue letters containing false or contradictory information to facilitate this project will be viewed as an act of bad faith and a violation of the law.
"The Council must recognize that this is now a matter of litigation. Issuing a letter to bypass the current legal impasse will not only be a violation of Gazette regulations but will also expose the CMC and its leadership to legal action for providing false evidence and administrative malpractice," a legal representative stated.
The public and environmental activists are now watching closely to see if the CMC will uphold urban planning integrity or yield to the influence of powerful developers.
