Local Govt Act to be amended

Measures are under way to amend the Local Government Housing Act to provide for transferring the ownership of houses owned by local authorities and rented out at a rental not exceeding Rs. 100 to the tenants free of charges.

In this regard, Local Government and Provincial councils Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon has taken action to seek approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to make necessary amendments by referring the draft Act formulated relating to the Local Government Housing Act No. 14 of 1964 to the legal draftsman.

Since 1980 transferring the ownership of houses rented out at a rental not exceeding Rs. 25 to their occupants free of charge has been practised.

Therefore the Minister has taken this step considering the various representations made for transferring the ownership of houses charging a rental exceeding Rs. 25 too to the occupants.

The total of all houses owned by Local Authorities in eight provinces except for the Northern Province is 643. Out of these houses 388 have been rented out - at a rental exceeding Rs. 25 and not exceeding Rs. 50 and not exceeding Rs. 100.