President opens Saliyagama Jana Sevana housing scheme in Oyamaduwa

Irangika Range

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday declared open the Saliyagama Jana Sevana housing scheme in Oyamaduwa, Anuradhapura .

The project with 51 houses built at a cost of Rs. 21.5 million was launched by the National Housing Development Authority(NGDA).

This housing project was launched under the “Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma national policy which pledges to provide safe and healthy shelter for every Sri Lankan family within the next few years.

“In order to fulfill this task, we have already launched the ‘Jana Sevana’ housing programme, which aims to construct one million houses within the next six years,”Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said.

The “Saliyagama” Jana Sevana housing scheme has all facilities, including infrastructure facilities, such as, electricity, water and by-roads.

The minister further said that the North Central Province including the Anuradhapura district has undergone a massive infrastructure development drive in the wake of the 6th Deyata Kirula National Development exhibition.

This national programme had provided access to safe and healthy shelter and basic services which has been recognized by the government as essential to a person’s physical, psychological, social and economic well-being.

“We have been able to construct around 2,000 new houses in the Anuradhapura District in line with the “Deyata Kirula” exhibition.

From next year, we plan to construct two houses in every Gramasevaka Division and hope to complete this project within three years,” the minister added.

North Central Province Governor Karunaratne Divulgane, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Anuradhapura District MP Weerakumara Dissanayake and North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake were also present.