The Hon. (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I am pleased to speak on Hon. Ravi Karunanayake’s Motion, “Providing a house for every family in Sri Lanka to live in.”

¶ 02 According to the 2024 Population and Housing Census and the 2023 Resource Profile, about 937,678 people live without a basic human right — a proper house. In Moneragala District alone, 14,701 families live without suitable housing. In Colombo District, 186,605 families live in temporary shanties.

¶ 03 We are not a party that formulates policies from air-conditioned rooms; we craft policy with and among the people, identifying their problems and finding solutions. Our Budget and policies aim to ensure decent housing and sanitation for all — rural, urban, low- and middle-income. The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) has already begun comprehensive work. Using NHDA’s own income, Rs. 128.6 million has been allocated to construct 764 houses under the low-income housing assistance programme. Under the middle-income housing loan programme, 1,431 houses are being supported. In Moneragala District alone, 20 houses with Rs. 13.27 million have been allocated. Many public servants could not build houses with their salaries; under the public servants’ housing loan programme, Rs. 29.62 million has been provided. Recognizing difficulties of commuting due to lack of housing near workplaces, we have commenced a programme to provide rental housing near places of work at concessionary rents.

¶ 04 Hon. Ravi Karunanayake also referred to housing in the North and East…