Mar 16, Colombo: The Urban Development Authority (UDA) of Sri Lanka denies chasing away some residents in the capital Colombo to acquire their lands for various development projects.

Addressing media Friday, UDA Chairman, Nimal Perera said that some residents in Colombo living in mostly unauthorized constructions are undergoing a temporary relocation programme until their homes were built and handed back to them.

He denied claims made by the opposition political parties that some residents in Colombo are being chased away to put up car parks.

He said the allegations were false and that there was no proof backing such a statement.

"It's only a temporary relocation programme in order to build their homes and give it back to them. It's not an attempt to acquire lands," Perera stressed.

Under the City of Colombo Development Plan, the government will construct high rise apartments with all common amenities to resettle the shanty dwellers and to free the prime land currently squatted by them for commercial and mixed development projects.

Reportedly there are around 70,000 run down houses in Colombo and that over 13,000 houses are being constructed with over 2,300 houses to be completed within the course of this year.