Special attention on Sri Lanka housing program :

World Habitat Conference in Nairobi

The 22nd Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN Habitat) was held from March 30 to April 3, 2009 at the UN Habitat Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya under the theme ‘For a Better Urban Future’. More than 1000 delegates from 58 member countries including Sri Lanka has participated this conference.

Urban Development, Minister Rohana Dissanayake led the Sri Lankan delegation for this conference with Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Ministry Secretary Dr. P. Ramanujan, Urban Settlement Development Authority Chairman.

Prasanna Gunawwardena, National Housing Development Authority General Manager L.S. Palansuirya and Acting Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Kenya, K. Maheshan participated as the other members of the delegation.

On the invitation of UN Habitat Executive Director Anna Tibajuka, Vice President of Republic of Kenya Stephen Kalonozo Musyoka were ceremonially inaugurated the inaugural session of this conference with the foreign delegates comprising Ministers of Housing and Urban Development, International Non-governmental Organisations and International Urban Sector Institutions.

Kenya Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka addressing the inaugural session said nearly 2/3 of the world population have migrated to cities and the fact that the majority of them are poor, had led to aggravate the urban settlement and housing problem of the city.

The Kenyan Vice President said in parallel to seeking solutions to the problem of poverty, it is the responsibility of the rulers of every country to find solutions to housing and human settlement problems and said collapsing of the global economy has obstructed in finding solutions to the housing and human settlement problems.

UN Habitat Executive Director Anna Tibjuka addressing the session said even though world has faced various economic problems, solutions could be found for human settlement problem faced by the global community through international conference of this nature.

At the 22nd session of the Governing Council meeting has drawn a special attention of the people’s participation and the reconstruction of housing program of Sri Lanka. Expressing views on tsunami housing programs, UN Habitat officials said that Sri Lanka takes special attention among the South and South East Asian countries in implementing tsunami reconstruction housing program efficiently and methodologically.

Minister Rohana Dissanayake and Sri Lankan delegation met the Housing and Urban Development Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Saeedi Kia during this conference and he explained the ongoing housing and urban development program of Sri lanka.