Govt. appeals to landlords to halve rent

• Calls for reductions for students, blue collar workers, other professionals in Colombo and suburbs

The Government yesterday appealed to landlords to halve the rent levied from vulnerable groups such as university students and blue collar workers living on rent in Colombo and suburbs. 

The Cabinet of Ministers, which met yesterday, decided to make the appeal to landlords given the high number of people who were forced to remain in their rented places due to the curfew. 

“Many people are struggling to pay rent as they were not able to work last month and are facing pay cuts. Therefore, we appeal to landlords to halve the rent of these vulnerable communities at this difficult time,” Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardana said at the Cabinet briefing held at the Government Information Department yesterday.