World Habitat Day falls today:

Over 30,000 families benefit from 200 CMC habitats

Athapattu BANDARA

The national celebration for the 26th World Habitat Day which falls today will be held under the patronage of President Mahinda

Rajapaksa at the Colombo Municipal Council Grounds at10.30 am, Construction and Engineering Ministry sources said.

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. Today, World Habitat Day will be celebrated under the theme “Changing Cities, Building Opportunities”. A Habitat Week starting from September 24 to 30 to mark the World Habitat Day 2012 in Sri Lanka, was declared last week on the initiatives Construction, Engineering, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

The government carried out a number of development programmes to develop 200 habitats in the Colombo Municipal Council(CMC) which benefited over 30.000 families to uplift their living standards during this period.

The Ministry earlier announced September 24 as Environment Day, September 25 as Ownership Day, September 26 as Community Day, September 27 as School Day, September 28 as a Day of Labour Contribution, September 29 as Savings Day and September 30 as Skills Day.

The National Housing Development Authority, Urban Habitat Development Authority and Sovereignty Management Authority were tasked with the implementation of these progarmmes.

Several competitions were conducted to mark National Habitat Day and winners will be prsented with valuable prizes.

Minister Weerawansa in his message for World Habitat Day stated plans are underway to uplift people’s living standards and improve the standards of habitats, thus fulfilling the requirements in accordance with the Mahinda Chinthana policy framework.

“The Janasevana one million housing project and Habitat development programme have contributed significantly in achieving these targets, “the minister added in his message.