February 24, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is set to embark on an expansive housing drive next year, with 31,000 new homes planned under a nationwide programme, according to Housing, Construction and Water Supply Minister Susil Ranasinghe.
The initiative, branded the 2026 National Housing Programme under the theme “A Place to Belong – A Beautiful Life”, is due to commence tomorrow (25).
The scheme will initially be rolled out across 13 districts, targeting low- and middle-income families in both rural and semi-urban communities.
Minister Ranasinghe said the majority of the proposed homes — nearly 25,000 — will be constructed through direct assistance schemes aimed at empowering beneficiaries to build on their own land. The National Housing Development Authority has earmarked Rs. 10 billion to support approximately 10,000 families in the first phase.
Each selected household will receive a non-repayable grant of Rs. 1 million to construct a dwelling, enabling families to design and oversee the building of their own homes while receiving technical guidance from housing officers. Authorities expect the approach to stimulate local employment in the construction sector and promote community-based development.
The programme will be formally launched with the distribution of Rs. 1.5 billion in cheques to 1,500 families across the 13 districts, marking the start of construction on the first 1,500 houses.
The Minister added that the broader objective of the scheme is not only to address housing shortages but also to uplift living standards, strengthen social stability and encourage sustainable settlement planning. Further phases of the programme are expected to expand coverage to additional districts later in the year.