Over Rs. 563 m for "Arunodaya Urban Poor Housing" program

Shirley Wijesinghe

The Government has spent over Rs.563 million to provide 4460 houses to the poorest of the poor people living in slums and shanties of the major cities under the "Arunodaya Urban Poor Housing" program, Urban Development and Sacred Areas Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said.

"The Arunodaya Urban Poor Housing" Program originated as a concept of Minister Dinesh Gunawardane in keeping with the "Mahinda Chinthana".

The project covers over 18 districts islandwide and recipients have formed a strong community organization named "Kusum Niwasa Ekamuthuwa".

The Ministry was able to construct 2273 houses in Colombo, 304 in Gampaha, 331 in Kalutara, 117 in Matale, 162 in Kandy, 405 in Hambantota, 198 in Ampara, 92 in Galle, 118 in Anuradapura and 78 in Nuwara Eliya.

The main task of the above project is to provide at least the basic needs of the urban poor.

Funds for the project will be obtained from the taxes imposed on the house owners who build over 5000 Sq. feet residential houses. He said that the Government's present policy in urban planning will strictly adhere to a systematic method with special attention to build slums and shanty free towns, Gunawardane said.