100,000 houses program to be completed by end 2016
Saturday, 14 February 2015 01:21
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By Channa Fernandopulle
The new Government is to build 100,000 houses in two phases with the first by the end of this year and the second by 2016.
Minister of Housing and Samurdhi, Sajith Premadasa said the aim of the project is to commence construction of 100,000 houses for the benefit of Sri Lanka’s homeless and poverty stricken within 100 days with 50,000 houses to be funded by the Government of Sri Lanka at a cost of Rs. 5 billion.
He revealed these details at a forum with the construction industry. Premadasa went on to invite members of the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) to join other well-wishers and donors to help complete the second phase of his project.
“Some may misconstrue this policy as the Government bearing the total cost of the house and basically spoon-feeding the homeless by the free provision of houses. This is not the case. We hope to build a house of 550 square feet in size which comes to about Rs. 575,000 but the most important aspect is that Government support will amount to a mere Rs. 100,000,” he clarified.
Originally conceived and implemented by his father, former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, in the 1980s, the initial project achieved completion of 153,000 homes following which further programs for the creation of one million homes and 1.5 million homes was embarked upon.
“The initial program was one where the Government physically built the house and gave it to the poor. However with the 1 million and 1.5 million, the government changed its function from being a provider to being a facilitator or an enabler. It was with this policy that my father managed to construct 2.5 million houses with minimal Government financial support. “During the mid-’80s and ’90s, when these two programs where in the process of being implemented, a mere Rs. 5,000 loan reaching up to Rs. 20,000 was provided. These were the types of financial support which the Government provided and it is this concept which compelled the United Nations to declare 1987 as the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, adopting the Sri Lankan model for home building and housing for the homeless and the poverty stricken,” Premadasa noted.
He concluded by issuing an open call to all Sri Lankans to help his Government address the issue of wealth inequality still prevalent many years into Sri Lanka’s post-war development.
“We have heard numerous political leaders talking about economic growth, prosperity, GDP growth and so on but let me provide you with one of the most poignant statistics what has been illustrated by the Department of Census and Statistics. While the richest 20% of our country share 53% of national income, the poorest 20% have a measly share of 4%. So however much we listen to various declarations, proclamations, grandiose populism and vocal speeches, it is this discrepancy, this imbalance, this social injustice we all have to address.
“It cannot be done with just Government action alone. We must have the support of all our citizens and of those who have flourished under the free-market system. I urge you to join hands with me to ensure that the highly ambitious and optimistic targets I have set for myself will be fulfilled within the stipulated time-period,” he concluded.
Fielding questions from the audience consequent to his speech, Premadasa noted that the previous administration had failed to update statistics on homelessness since 2011 but nevertheless stated that current information indicates that approximately 1.2 million families in Sri Lanka lack housing facilities with a further 50,000 families falling into this bracket each year.
In that regard, he acknowledged that a fresh survey would be required to ascertain the current rates of homelessness in the country, particularly in rural areas, a task which has been entrusted to the National Housing Development Authority.
