Govt pledges to tackle national housing crisis within a decade

Date:

August 04, Colombo (LNW): Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said the government intends to resolve the country’s housing deficit over the next five to ten years.

Speaking at a state housing assistance programme held in Anuradhapura yesterday (03), the Minister outlined a series of new initiatives designed to offer meaningful relief to public sector employees and low-income families.

According to Minister Samarasinghe, the current administration is prioritising practical solutions over political spectacle, contrasting its approach with what he described as the previous government’s tendency to spend extravagantly on public relations rather than actual housing development.

He noted that more than Rs. 520 million had been allocated solely for promotional campaigns under the former regime—funds that, he said, could have been better used to support real families in need of housing.

Under the present scheme, the government has already extended direct support to 140 individuals, with more than 100 applicants approved for low-interest housing loans. In addition, over 80 state employees have been granted loans of Rs. 1 million each, aimed at either constructing new homes or undertaking much-needed renovations.

Minister Samarasinghe emphasised that the selection process for these benefits has been structured to prioritise fairness and transparency. Unlike in the past, he claimed, beneficiaries are now chosen through a standardised evaluation system, designed to minimise favouritism and political influence.

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