• Rtd. judge led committee to be appointed by Highways Ministry
• Focus on Madatiyawala-K’gala final stretch of Mirigama-K’gala 2nd phase Expressway section  
• 152 affected residents claim no compensation received, 254 claim compensation inadequate, allege fraud 
• Highways Secy. says compensation for 80 houses post-NBRO inspection   

The Transport and Highways Ministry has announced that it would appoint a committee headed by a retired judge to investigate alleged irregularities and long-standing grievances related to the Madatiyawala–Kurunegala stretch, which forms the final segment of the Mirigama–Kurunegala section of the Central Expressway, following complaints over house damage and unpaid or inadequate compensation.

Ministry Secretary, Prof. Kapila Perera had reportedly made the announcement at a meeting held at the Ministry yesterday (10) with representatives of the affected residents. The meeting focused on complaints regarding the non-payment and inadequate payment of compensation to households impacted by the project.

During the meeting, the residents pointed out that a committee had previously been appointed by a former Ministry Secretary to look into the issue, but that its report was never acted upon. They alleged the findings were suppressed during the tenure of previous Governments, leaving affected families to suffer for several years.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, one of the affected residents who attended the meeting, Sanjeewa Kulathilaka said that 152 houses along the relevant section had not received any compensation at all, while compensation paid to another 254 houses was insufficient. He added that officials had failed to act even after the relevant documents were submitted to the Human Rights Commission and the Road Development Authority (RDA). He also said that residents handed over documents to the Ministry yesterday, pointing to alleged fraud in the compensation process.

After considering the submissions, Prof. Perera had reportedly stated that 80 houses, including 33 houses relevant to the section raised at the meeting, would be inspected by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), following which compensation would be provided. He further said that after discussions with Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake, a committee chaired by a retired judge would be appointed to investigate issues reported from areas such as Baralathala.

The Ministry’s decision comes amid concerns raised by residents living near the second phase of the Central Expressway. Nearly 400 residents had claimed that their lives were at risk due to damage to their houses caused during construction. On an earlier occasion, Kulathilaka said that information requests submitted under the Right to Information Act to institutions including the RDA and the Police had gone unanswered.