Housing, Construction and Water Supply Minister Dr. H.M. Susil Ranasinghe said 5,000 houses constructed with government assistance are scheduled to be handed over to the public tomorrow (October 5) to mark World Habitat Day.
The Minister made the remarks while addressing a media briefing held at the Government Information Department.
He said arrangements have been made to hold this year’s World Habitat Day celebrations tomorrow (5), under the theme “A Safe Home for All,” with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as the chief guest.
A Habitat Week will also be conducted across the country in conjunction with the World Habitat Day celebrations.
The Minister said the government’s target is to construct 30,000 houses by December 31, while its aim is to provide a safe home for every person.
He said low-income families will be given priority when allocating houses, adding that each house constructed with community participation will be a fully equipped 550-square-foot home.
Houses will also be provided under the programme to families in the Northern and Eastern provinces who lost their homes due to the war. The government will allocate Rs. 2 million for each such house.
Under the “Yathiwara Ma Piya” programme, Rs. 1.5 million will be provided for each house, while Rs. 2 million will be allocated for each safe home constructed for children in institutional care.
The Minister also said Rs. 5 million will be provided to each family that lost its home completely due to Cyclone Ditwah.
A total of Rs. 500 million has been allocated for housing loans for government employees, with the government covering four percentage points of the interest charged on these loans, he said.
Migrant workers will be able to obtain bank loans of up to Rs. 10 million at an interest rate of 15%, with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment providing assistance towards part of the interest on these loans, the Minister added. (Newswire)
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