Slum dwellers not removed from Colombo:

Houses for slum dwellers

Two 10-storeyed buildings to be built:

*Rs 950 mn to build 500 housing units

Nethali STRUYS

The government will spend over Rs 950 million to build 500 housing units for slum dwellers in Colombo city, a Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Ministry spokesman said.

“It is clear that the government has no intention of removing the low-income groups from Colombo but intends to uplift their living standards,” the spokesman said.

The Cabinet has approved a proposal forwarded by the President to build two 10 storeyed buildings, including 500 housing units in Dematagoda area at a cost of Rs. 952.62 million for these low income families.

Under the resettlement programme, the construction of 320 housing units out of 1000 units have already been completed, he said. These have been allocated to families living in the Slave Island area. Nearly 60 percent of the work in another block is also being completed.

“The government has pledged that no low-income family residing in Colombo will be evicted from the city. They will be provided with better quality residencies,” he added.