Housing database to be established

Forty-six families whose land is worth Rs. 282 million to be moved to new housing worth Rs.150 million

Cabinet approval was given on Wednesday to establish a new secretariat to maintain a database on housing.

Titled Janasevana National Housing Secretariat it was approved on a proposal made by, Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

It is expected that this secretariat will act as a centre to connect the housing market in order to provide information to all those in need of houses, for housing property developers, contractors and capital providers.

It will also gather information on housing programmes implemented by various institutions and individuals in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile the Rs.150 million contract for the second phase of the Sinhapura Housing Project at Wanathamulla, Colombo 8 has been handed over to the State Engineering Corporation.

This housing project consists of 120 housing units and under Stage I of the project, three buildings consisting of 60 housing units were completed and they were handed over to the public in 2007. On a proposal made by Minister Weerawansa Cabinet approval was granted to entrust the completion of Stage II of the project to the State Engineering Corporation at a cost of Rs.150.27 million.

The 46 families who were ejected from garden No. 187 at Torrington Mawatha Colombo 7 will be accommodated here and the land used by them at Torrington worth Rs. 282 million will be used for other urban development activities.