Permanent houses under Janasewana Diriya programme

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Construction Engineering Services Housing and Common Amenities Ministry plans to convert incomplete urban habitats as permanent residences under ‘Janasewana Diriya’ Urban Habitat Development Programme, said Construction, Engineerin Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

Addressing the launching ceremony of Janasewana Diriya programme held recently at Janakala Kendraya, Minister Weerawansa said according to the Housing and Population Census 2012, country's housing requirement is less than seven lakhs. The housing problem mainly exists in urban areas, including Colombo city.

“The ministry provided Rs 100 million in funds for 515 families living in half completed houses in Kaduwela, under the first phase of the the Janasewana Diriya programme. The ministry plans to continue this programme in other urban areas,” he said.

“The Janasewana Diriya programme has been introduced to uplift the living standards of families living in half completed or incompleted houses,” said the minister. He also said according to the Housing Census 2012, a large amount of houses are in urban areas, such as, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kaluthara, Kurunegala, Kandy. The largest number of incomplete or half completed houses are also found in these areas.

“A recent survey reveals that there are 5.2 million permanent houses in Sri Lanka of which about 75 percent of are in urban areas. Highest housing density is in Kaduwela. The census shows that about 1,000 houses per square a kilo metre. The programme was initiated in Kaduwela taking these facts into consideration,” Minister Weerawansa said.

“Prior to the Housing Census 2012, we believed that the housing requirement of the country to be between 1.2 million and 1.5 million. but as a result of Mahinda Chinthanya programme of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the requirement is less than 700,000. Most of these houses are half complete. “The government pays special attention to the development of the housing sector. So I believe that Sri Lanka will be the country with lowest housing requirement in the region. We are collecting statistics to find out more details.” he said.