Engineering Corp to construct mega-housing project in Libya

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Sri Lanka State Engineering Corporation has been selected to construct a mega housing project in Libya, Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.

The Minister addressing the media said the State Engineering Corporation will construct 2,500 housing units in Libya within two years. The total project cost is US$ 495 million. The Corporation will employ 2,000 local workers for this project as labourers, architects and engineers.

"The construction of 2,500 houses is the first phase and it will be followed by 7,500 more houses after the completion the first phase.

The construction of 2,500 houses will be completed before the two year time period. The second phase will have 7,500 housing units. The total project cost of the second phase is US$ 2 billion. This will be a great boon for the country as Sri Lanka will supply the labour force and certain material" Minister Senaratne added.

The Cabinet paper was scheduled to be submitted to the Cabinet yesterday. Under the advice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government is attending to the construction process while offering maximum support such as issuing Treasury bonds, the Minister noted.

The Government has taken steps to provide shelter for families in shanties in Orugodawatte and Panchikawatte area.

A family will be given a house with 400 square feet instead of a 80 square feet hut in which a family is now living. Moves are under way to construct 20 storeyed housing complex for Government servants. According to estimates 600,000 housing units are required and a considerable amount of houses are being constructed, Minister Senaratne added.