Experiences of a relocated community in Colombo : case study of Sinhapura, Wanathamulla

Sinhalese version available in IDRC Digital Library: Experiences of a relocated community in Colombo : case study of Sinhapura, Wanathamulla [Sinhalese version]Sinhapura is a government housing complex in two phases, each with 60 apartments built for relocating residents from two shanty communities in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The displacement and relocation experiences of the two groups have been different. The sense of belonging felt by Sinhapura residents differs not only between the two phases but also among members of each phase. The nature of condominium living, competition, presence of relocatees from two different ex-watta communities, petty crime and lack of policing, a lack of cohesive leadership, and the nature of their previous housing community, seem to cause divisions within the new community