10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

New Democratic Front· National List· 9 May 2025 ·Debate: Private Members' Motion (P.25/2024): Providing Housing for Every Family in Sri Lanka

Public FinanceInfrastructureLand & Housing
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Ravi Karunanayake argued for a supply-side, practical housing strategy linked to industrial investment, citing Malaysia’s experience and proposals received from Turkey and China. He said BOI-supported prefabricated housing could be built quickly at around Rs. 1.1 million per unit and urged tailored housing models for urban, agrarian, estate, fisheries, indigenous, war-displaced and village communities. He questioned whether the national housing deficit exceeds 580,000 and called for cross-party cooperation to address it within 10 years, with J.C. Alawathuwala seconding the Motion.

Verbatim record (translated)

Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English

¶ 01 A supply-side approach is good for the country. In Malaysia they invested in industry; the economy grew and housing followed. On taking this forward, I have already received concepts from Turkey and China in response to this Motion; I will share them with the Minister. Today, under BOI, prefabricated houses can be built in 7 days for around Rs. 1.1 million. Such concepts can develop the economy and solve housing — that is real development, beyond campaign promises. We must be practical.

¶ 02 Across the country, housing typologies differ — urban vs agrarian; estates have unique systems; developed nations do employment-based housing — for fisheries, indigenous communities, war-displaced, and villagers, tailored models are needed.

¶ 03 I believe the deficit is higher than 580,000; the Minister may know better. This is doable; the issue is will. If we mobilize ideas together and take on this challenge, even within 10 years we can deliver. I present this Motion hoping all MPs will help realize it. Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala seconds the Motion.

Provenance

Source
Hansard, Friday, 9 May 2025 ·No. 1748600585013314 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 9 May 2025. No. 1748600585013314. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/24868