Govt. will meet SL’s housing needs by 2016: Sajith

Thursday, 7 January 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Waruni Paranagamage

The Government will meet Sri Lanka’s housing needs by the end of 2016, Minister of Housing and Constructions Sajith Premadasa said on Saturday (2).

During a ceremony to provide housing loans to 852 families in Katuwana Provincial Council in Hambantota District under ‘Niwasa Wadi Diyunu Kara Ganime Wisiri Wadasatahana’ (scattered loan project for housing constructions) implemented under the ‘Samata Sewana’ program of the Government, the Minister said that they would establish 200 ‘Uda villages’ (village awakening) in Hambantota District plus 200 ‘Uda villages’ islandwide next year to achieve the set targets.

“The ‘Uda villages’ project provides land facilities to the people who can’t afford a land to develop a house. The beneficiaries of the project will receive a land for a house plus a loan facility worth Rs. 250,000 with a lower interest rate. But we are facing a lack of State owned lands in the Katuwana Provincial Council to utilise in the project. Hence, we have already shifted 12 ‘Uda villages’ to the Tissamaharama electorate and the people who like to settle in Tissamaharama electorate can reap the benefits of the village awakening program,” the Minister added.

Describing the scattered housing loans, the Minister asserted that the project would provide Rs. 50,000 to each family to continue their housing construction.

“This project will support the people who have delayed their housing construction due to financial barriers. The beneficiaries will be provided a Rs. 50,000 housing loan to finish their housing construction,” the Minister asserted.

He further asserted that the ‘Sewana Fund’ would provide housing aid to the vulnerable people who cannot afford a house. “We promote housing loans rather than housing aid. It gives two advantages. People undergo a social responsibility to pay back the money and the recovered amount from loans can be extended to provide further housing loans to more people. We charge only a 3.73% annual interest rate for this home loans,” the minister said.

He further asserted that a mobile service would be initiated among the people of the Hambantota District to find their housing problems and provide solutions.

“The people who are engaged in the construction field (brick masons) will receive equipment, training programs, certificates and heavy vehicle training under the mobile service program. We hope to launch two mobile service programs in the Katuwana Provincial Council as the area is too big,” the Minister said.