Sept 29, Colombo: Sri Lankan authorities have in writing informed the residents in the Dambulla sacred area to vacate their premises by the end of October.

A board member of the controversial mosque in Dambulla, M. Rahmathulla has said the Urban Development Authority (UDA) had issued letters to 52 houses and 23 shops in the Dambulla sacred area.

The letters have stated that the occupants were residing in lands that were under the Scared Area Development Act.

The residents have been asked in the letters to vacate their premises within two weeks and that they would be provided with alternate lands on Kandalama Road, in the Pollwatha area.

According to Rahmathulla, the mosque is not located within the sacred land and the mosque officials have informed of the fact to the UDA officials.

The mosque officials have already sought assistance from Muslim government ministers to prevent the government's measure.