Prority for housing :

Record housing in 2011

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The National Housing Development Authority and the Urban Habitat Development Authority have built 20,689 houses within the first year of the Jana Sevana Housing Development programme by investing Rs six billion, said Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

Addressing the media at the Information Department recently, Weerawansa said that the ministry plans to build 50,000 houses in 2012.

"The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) invested the biggest funds this year during its history," he said

According to NHDA statistics, only 6,395 houses were built in 2009 and 6,547 in 2010.

The Treasury allocated Rs 1,710 million for the housing project in 2011. Government banks, the Economic Development Ministry, the Resettlement Ministry, the Fisheries Ministry, the Cultural Affairs and the National Heritage Ministry, Sevana Funds and Foreign Employment Bureau also provided financial assistance for the housing programme, he said.

The minister said that the Jana Sevana Housing Development Project is a 100 percent community based project. "All constructions are being carried out under the supervision of the NHDA."

The minister said that there was a six percent development in the construction field in 2011. "The ministry has taken measures to promote low cost, nature friendly housing programmes. The ministry has also taken measures to bring the Construction Training and Development Institute to an authority to enhance the quality and efficiency of constructions."

"Housing wasn't given priority by previous governments in their development drive. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given priority for housing development as the government cannot expect a productive workforce without fulfilling their housing facilities," the minister added.