Mar 07, Colombo: Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today ordered the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to set up an office for residents displaced due to development projects in Slave Island area in the capital Colombo for consultations.

Hearing a petition filed by the residents of the area, the Supreme Court directed the UDA to establish the office in the same area.

The office will operate in the area until next Monday and the court ordered the UDA to submit report on March 12.

UDA will inquire from residents if they would like to leave their premises after receiving compensation or if they would stay in a temporary place until permanent residence is granted in the development projects.

A three-member bench of Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, Justice P. A. Ratnayake and Justice Priyasath Dep, on February 28, vacated an earlier order issued on September 13, 2012 that allowed the status quo of an eight-acre area to be maintained.

The order prevented the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development from launching the Slave Island Area Redevelopment Project which would provide 8 acres of land bordering former Education Department site, Malay Street, Justice Akbar Street, and Railway line on a 99-year lease to an Indian company to build over 450 housing units with all facilities for the current shanty dwellers in the area.