Proposal made by President:

Housing facilities for under-served settlements

Disna MUDALIGE

"The government has launched a development programme through the Urban Development Authority to provide housing facilities to under-served settlements in and around Colombo on a proposal by the President," said acting Cabinet spokesman and Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Information Department yesterday, he said that Cabinet approval was granted to appoint a Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee and a Project Committee to evaluate proposals received from investors.

He said that separate contracts have been awarded to construct 4,393 housing units.

"The first phase will consist of 216 housing units at Salamulla, Kolonnawa. Work will be handled by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation."

Unicorn Investment Bank of Bahrain has also funded 16,500 housing units.

"Among them 7,500 housing units will be constructed initially within one year," he said.

The minister said that Cabinet approval was given to sign an MoU between the Finance and Planning Ministry and China Development Bank Corporation to receive US $ 1.5 billion of financial assistance within three years to construct roads, bridges, water supply schemes, irrigation and power.

This was a proposal made by the President.