Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake officially handed over housing units to 116 families who were previously living on railway reservation lands between Nawinna and Paddukka.
The families have been resettled at Pearl City Residences in Malpalla, Kottawa, as part of the Government’s resettlement programme for unauthorised occupants living along the Kelani Valley Railway Line’s right-of-way.
At a ceremony held to mark the occasion, Minister Rathnayake presented ownership deeds to the beneficiaries. The Railways Department funded the project, and each modern housing unit is valued at Rs. 18 million.
The event was attended by Colombo District MP Devanda Suraweera, National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) Chairman Aravinda Sirinatha, Railway Department Road Development Project Director Upali Mallawarachchi, NHDA General Manager, and other senior government officials.
The initiative is part of a broader national effort to improve safety and living standards for communities occupying critical infrastructure zones, while also ensuring uninterrupted development of transportation networks.
