Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunge is seeking government funding of Rs.15,244.58 million to complete seven housing projects initiated by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa during his tenure as Minister of Housing Development from 2015 to 2019. These projects, comprising 44,053 housing units, were halted due to insufficient funds during their construction phase.
The funds will be utilized to finalize the construction of various housing initiatives, including the model village project, Visiri Housing Loan project, Visiri Donation project, Grama Shakthi project, Viru Sumithuru Project, housing project for Kidney Patients, and the housing project for flood-affected individuals in the North. These projects were implemented by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) under the purview of then Minister Premadasa.
The Ministry plans to present a cabinet paper outlining the financial requirements for completing these projects. The anticipated timeline for completion is by the end of 2024. Minister Ranatunge has emphasized the importance of prioritizing the completion of these projects before initiating any new housing developments.
The NHDA cited exceeding the approved number of units as the reason for the projects being halted midway. Minister Ranatunge’s decision to focus on completing these ongoing projects underscores the government’s commitment to fulfilling its housing commitments and addressing the housing needs of various communities across the country.