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Historic day for housing programme

By Kumaradasa Jayasinghe 

The first stage of the Sahaspura Housing Complex was inaugurated yesterday, with the presentation of houses to 655 low income families including the families of 45 veteran artistes.

"Today is a historic day when persons with low income have been given houses in Colombo. Over 61,000 low income families live in shanties in Colombo. The attention of the President was drawn to this five years ago and as a result this 'Thirasara Purawara' program was implemented through the Presidential Task Force," said Minister of Urban Development, Housing, Public Utilities, Sport, and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Mangala Samaraweera.

The Minister was addressing the gathering at the presentation of title deeds to recipients of the housing units at the Sahaspura housing complex at Wanathamulla.

"Today politicians have made poverty a political tool. They never try to alleviate poverty of the people. However President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga never considers differences in colour, party, caste or religion. She has set in motion plans to make Colombo a complete and fully fledged city by the year 2006 under the Urban Development Plan. Only the People's Alliance Government has the ability to implement this giant development program. We completed in eight months what the UNP could not do in 17 years," he said.

"Some people blamed us for removing unauthorised pavement boutiques, but we acted according to a plan to develop the city. All those who were evicted have been provided with a means of livelihood irrespective of party differences. It is our objective to make Colombo city an important trade centre in Asia by 2005", he further stated.

Minister Samaraweera warned the people not to be misled by fraudulent politics practised today. The President has created a society free from fear. The development program of this country has not been weakened in any way. During the last seven years no room has been left for communalism to raise its ugly head. We are completely opposed to any division of the country or handing over the administration of part of the country to the LTTE. We shall continue this struggle for the security of future generations", concluded Minister Samaraweera.

Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Minster Indika Gunawardena said :"However developed Colombo is, it has had no proper plan of development. There are 66,000 families without basic amenities living in Colombo. This is the first stage of the program to give new houses to replace their slums and shanties. They have been living under extremely deplorable conditions up to now. The main objective of this program is to give a house of their own to squatters".

"This program will give birth to a beautiful city. This is a revolutionary step. Minister Samaraweera is determined to make Colombo a paradise by the year 2010. It would be a new experience for a family living in a slum to occupy a flat on the 10th floor of a housing complex. These houses are replete with all the infrastructure facilities. This is not only a housing complex, but also a sustainable mini city where everything is available," he said.

"The President has a clear vision, the Peoples Alliance has the ability to create a prosperous country tomorrow.This housing complex will show the people the way to a bright and prosperous future", concluded Minister Gunawardane.

Highways and Muslim Religious Affairs Minister A.H.M.Fowzie said that he was overjoyed to participate in this historic ceremony. This is the first stage of the program implemented to provide houses to low income shanty dwellers in the city of Colombo. At the time I was Mayor of Colombo I took steps to provide basic facilities to the people. However owing to the lack of funds housing schemes of this type could not be undertaken. Today the people of colombo are faced with big problems owing to the delays of the Colombo Municipal Council. The sewerage system is 150 years old and it cannot stand up to the present day needs. It has become a big threat. About 150 million dollars are needed to repair it. Minister mangala Samaraweera has made arrangements to do this. Really speaking this should have been attended to during the 17 years of UNP rule.

Media Deputy Minister Alavi Mowlana, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, Amal Senalankadhikara, Cletus Mendis,Mujibar Rahaman, Ministry secretary Sandasiri Wickramaarachchi, Urban development Authority Chairman Dr Chrishan Deheragoda, and several others were present on this occasion.

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