SRI JAYAWARDENEPURA KOTTE: While speaking at the Committee Stage Debate for financial year 2020-21, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa said that 71,110 houses will be constructed for rural low-income earners in the country by 2024. These houses will be constructed under the programme ‘Obata Geyak-Ratata Hetak’, a scheme to solve the housing problems of rural low-income earners.
He also announced that the Government of Sri Lanka is planning on completing 136 urban development projects by the end of 2024, in addition to the already completed 21 and almost completed 52 urban development plans.
Rajapaksa also said that 117 towns have already been selected under the Siyak Nagara (100 cities) project for the development of stagnated towns. Apart from this, another 100 towns under this programme will be developed during 2022. The government has also planned 12 vehicle parks to reduce traffic congestion in various towns.
Rajapaksa added that under his government, the urban development and housing related subjects have recorded an improvement despite the drawbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic in various countries.