The government plans to launch a project to build housing units in Colombo and suburbs for low income families aiming to relocate families presently living in shanties, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.
In the first phase, the government expects to build 50,000 houses for the low income families and finding funds needed to complete the project in the next few years, the Premier said.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe speaking at a recent event organized to lay the foundation stone for a housing project consisting of 400 housing units for the middle income employees in the state and private sector said when the project to build 50,000 houses is completed the low income families could be relocated from the shanties for the first time.
He said when the second and third phases are completed, housing problems will be solved permanently and the shanty dwellings can be removed freeing up the land to be used for commercial purposes.
The land could be used to develop the city, and build office and shopping complexes which will provide an additional income to the people in the city, he pointed out.
“The ultimate aim of the project, which is carried out in three phases is to remove all the shanties from the Colombo city within 10 years, Prime Minister added.
The 50,000 housing project has already been implemented by now and the Government has planned to complete the project by 2023, he said.
“We have also started programs to develop the Beira Lake and to develop the urban area around Colombo and make Colombo a larger urban district. We will also be constructing new water supply schemes in the Colombo city and ready to bear a great deal of expenses in Colombo within the next 10 years,” the Premier said.
The Premier further said that it has been planned to construct two new schools with all facilities in the Colombo Central and Colombo North areas under the education sector development activities.
