The Government has invested Rs. 8 million per one housing unit. Each apartment with a space of over 450 square feet has two bedrooms, living area, verandah, kitchen and sanitary facilities. The Government has also developed the road network adjacent to this housing scheme and all infrastructure facilities such as community halls have been developed for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

In addition, the Urban Development Authority has started the construction of over 20,000 housing units meant for the people living in underserved settlements at 26 locations in the City of Colombo, on the directive of Secretary to the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Authority has planned to construct 5,000 housing units by the end of this year. The Government has planned to manage the land occupied by the underserved settlers effectively with well equipped houses for them.

It is identified that over 70,000 low income families are living in 1,500 tenements in the Colombo city and the government's intention is to ensure a house for every such family in line with the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ policy framework.

(ST/KH)