July 18, Colombo: The Urban Development Authority (UDA), under orders from the Ministry of Defence, today demolished houses of unauthorised residents in the Geln Street area of Slave Island, Colombo, claiming that the houses were a threat to Colombo's security.

However, the Supreme Court issued an injunction order to stop the UDA from demolishing the houses in response to a fundamental rights petition submitted by a few area residents.

Tensions were high between area residents and UDA officials this morning as they carried out the demolishing under police security. The UDA officials claimed that they had not received any injunction order at the time and said the demolishing was legal, as the residents had been given prior notice.

Area residents started to throw stones at the UDA officials and the police and also blocked the coastal railway line. The police launched tear gas to suppress the protest. Later, the police on receipt of the injunction order stopped the demolishing.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake, and SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem were observed making statements to the media on the plight of the people who lost their homes.