Key relief for biz and residents impacted by COVID shutdown by UDA

By Charumini de Silva

The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has announced a much needed relief on rentals for businesses and selected residents impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. 

Keeping with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s “Vision of Prosperity”, the UDA has decided to implement several relief measures for business persons occupying projects of the UDA on monthly rental basis, in view of the business disruption caused by the COVID-19 

pandemic. 

Tenants at the Dutch Hospital in Colombo and Galle, Independence Square shopping complex, Race Course Colombo, the Gold Centre and, the Floating Market will have their rentals reduced by 50% till December 2020. 

Payment of full monthly rentals has been exempted for commercial projects for 3 months, for when the country underwent a partial shutdown from March to May. The UDA has also decided to delay the charging of rentals due for the months of March, April and May, for residents of Urban Regeneration Housing Projects. 

Another relief is exempting of paying charges for March-May by private property owners who obtain annual permits on payment for changing of usage. The UDA has requested those who want to avail of these relief measures to submit their requests by 30 September on payment of the rental arrears as at 1 March.