‘Revolution in urban development after 2010’

Sandasen Marasinghe and Ishara Mudugamuwa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will never evict underprivileged families from Colombo, said Urban Development Authority chairman Nimal Perera.

Commenting on a recent media report on “Apple Watte” housing project at a press conference held Friday at the UDA auditorium, the UDA chairman said providing permanent houses for underprivileged families living in slums were in the urban development plan of Colombo since 1998. Though there were housing projects such as Thirasara Purawara, Pelin Mandira, Kusum Niwasa started under various governments only about 2,000 houses were constructed within 15 years.

These housing plans were not successful in solving the housing problem of underprivileged families and the trend to construct unauthorized houses increased day by day. According to a survey conducted in 2010 the government identified that there are 68,794 families living in 1,500 colonies in Colombo. According to the survey more than 50 percent of the Colombo residents were living in these colonies.

Under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a huge revolution occurred in urban development after 2010.

Under the guidance and the support of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa the challenge of constructing 70,000 houses in Colombo city had been given to the Urban Development Authority.

The UDA also plans to start the construction of more housing projects this year with the aim of reaching the target of 20,000 houses by the end of 2013.

The UDA never stole lands of innocent people. Through this housing development process, all those presently living in slums would be able to live in a house with all facilities in the Colombo city.

The UDA thoroughly condemned the baseless allegations made by the opposition.