2ND LEAD (Correction)

Court suspends distribution of tsunami houses to Ampaa'rai Muslims

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 May 2008, 16:05 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Monday issued interim injunction stopping the distribution of three hundred houses constructed in Deegavapi area in Ampaa'rai district for tsunami affected Muslim families affected tsunami until the inquiry into the petition filed by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentary group leader Venerable Ellawela Methanananda Thera and six others from Deegavapi Buddhist Restoration Association is completed, legal sources said.

The inquiry into the petition has been fixed for June 11, legal sources said.

Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) constructed the houses under the tsunami rehabilitation project.

The petitioners have cited Ministers Ferial Ashraff, Jeevan Kumaratunga, and P.Dayaratne, President of the Deegavapi Management Committee, Akkaraippattu Divisional Secretary, Land Commissioner and seven others as respondents.

The petitioners state that land belongs to Hingurana Sugar factory has been handed over to the SLRCS to construct 500 houses for tsunami affected families.

Three hundred houses have been constructed in the close proximity of the Deegavapi area. The distribution of these houses to Muslim families would affect the rights of Buddhists in the area in worshipping the historic Raja Maha Vihare in Deegavapi, the petitioners said.

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