The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply

¶ 01 (i) The number of high-rise housing schemes constructed by the National Housing Development Authority prior to the year 2012 in and around Colombo is 87, whilst there are two housing schemes in Gampaha, one housing scheme in Jaffna, three housing schemes in Matara, and four housing schemes in Kandy. Most of those housing schemes were built between 1980-2010 and have five or fewer floors. According to the laws and regulations prevailing at that time, there was no requirement to install elevators.

¶ 02 Elevators have been installed for the two five-storey buildings constructed in the year 2021 under Soysapura Phase III, and elevators have also been installed for the Marapalla Resettlement Housing Project, which was constructed by the Department of Railways and handed over to the National Housing Development Authority in the year 2025 for the issuance of deeds.

¶ 03 No budgetary allocation is made by the National Housing Development Authority for the maintenance of elevators in housing schemes. Even in respect of the two housing schemes where elevators have been installed, the maintenance activities are scheduled to be handed over to the established Management Corporations once the issuance of deeds is completed.

¶ 04 The Marapalla Resettlement Housing Project was constructed by the Department of Railways. Accordingly, the installation of elevators was also carried out by that institution. The contracting agency for the Soysapura Phase III Housing Project was the State Engineering Corporation and the installation of elevators was conducted by that institution.

¶ 05 No.

¶ 06 Not applicable.

¶ 07 Staircases have been constructed.

¶ 08 Yes.

¶ 09 e Slave Island Wekanda Housing Scheme: The National Building Research Institute (NBRI) has informed that this housing scheme is in a hazardous condition.

¶ 10 u Nupewela Resettlement Housing Scheme, Matara: This housing scheme was provided to very low-income families on a rehabilitation basis in the year 1998. Consisting of two storeys and 34 buildings, the total number of housing units therein is 201. The Department of Buildings has inspected these houses and informed that they are in a condition unfit for occupation.

¶ 11 Not relevant.

¶ 12 NHDA: Housing units constructed within Colombo Municipal Council limits and islandwide; freehold deeds

¶ 13 3. The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake asked:

¶ 14 (a) (i) the total number of housing units constructed and allocated by the National Housing Development Authority as at 31 December, 2025, separately, within the Colombo Municipal Council limits and islandwide; (ii) the number of beneficiaries among the aforesaid who have not been issued legally executed and registrable freehold deeds or transfer instruments; (iii) the number of such beneficiaries, separately project-wise and each district-wise; (iv) the precise legal, cadastral, land acquisition or documentation deficiencies preventing issuance of deeds; (v) the number of files that have been pending for the last three years; (vi) the time-bound action plan, including monthly targets, to clear the backlog of pending deeds during 2026; and (vii) whether responsibility has been fixed on any officer or agency in respect of prolonged delays affecting citizens' property rights? (b) If not, why?

¶ 15 (a) (i) As at 31.12.2025, housing units constructed and allocated by NHDA:

¶ 16 Colombo Municipal limits: - Colombo City North: 6,415 - Colombo City South: 9,532 Total: 15,947

¶ 17 Houses built across the Island (district-wise): - Colombo (excluding Colombo Metropolitan Area): 5,595 - Kandy: 2,674 - Mannar: 341 - Kalutara: 2,142 - Badulla: 2,209 - Kurunegala: 23 - Nuwara Eliya: 1,729 - Moneragala: 1,070 - Trincomalee: 826 - Kegalle: 673 - Galle: 1,367 - Ratnapura: 1,689 - Matale: 963 - Anuradhapura: 1,470 - Polonnaruwa: 623 - Matara: 1,848 - Vavuniya: 1,190 - Gampaha: 6,713 - Hambantota: — - Ampara: — - Batticaloa: — - Mullaitivu: — - Kilinochchi: — - Jaffna: 2,480 - Puttalam: 602 Total islandwide: 52,174

¶ 18 Relevant further details are given in Annex 01.

¶ 19 (ii) Beneficiaries who have not been issued duly signed and registrable freehold deeds or transfer deeds: 13,494. Relevant details are given in Annex 01.

¶ 20 (iii) Freehold deeds not yet issued:

¶ 21 Colombo Municipal limits: - Colombo City North: 2,235 - Colombo City South: 3,985 Total: 6,220

¶ 22 Houses built across the Island (district-wise, not yet issued): - Matara: 393 - Vavuniya: 626 - Gampaha: 825 - Hambantota: — - Ampara: — - Batticaloa: — - Mullaitivu: — - Kilinochchi: — - Jaffna: 1,725 - Puttalam: 53 Total: 7,274

¶ 23 The details related to the projects for each district are given separately in Annexes 02 to 23.

¶ 24 (iv) Reasons preventing issuance of deeds: - Non-vesting of the relevant lands with the National Housing Development Authority. - Non-preparation of plans and survey plans. - Non-payment of dues relevant to the housing units. - Family disputes and lack of agreement among family heirs. - Non-submission of documents relevant to the transfer. - Non-preparation of condominium survey plans.

¶ 25 (v) Files currently being processed for issuance of deeds during the past 03 years:

¶ 26 Colombo Municipal limits: - Colombo City North: 154 - Colombo City South: 229 Total: 383

¶ 27 Houses built across the Island (selected districts): - Colombo (excluding Colombo Metropolitan Area): 20 - Kandy: 91 - Mannar: 12 - Kalutara: 14 - Badulla: — - Kurunegala: — - Nuwara Eliya: 12 - Moneragala: 42 - Trincomalee: 90 - Kegalle: — - Galle: 20 - Ratnapura: 20 - Matale: 7 - Anuradhapura: 14 - Polonnaruwa: 10 - Matara: 20 - Vavuniya: 110 - Gampaha: 52 - Hambantota: — - Ampara: — - Batticaloa: — - Mullaitivu: — - Kilinochchi: — - Jaffna: 66 - Puttalam: 14 Total: 997

¶ 28 (vi) There is no monthly targeted action plan. Under the annual targeted Action Plan, it is scheduled to issue 1,500 deeds.

¶ 29 (vii) No such responsibility has been assigned.

¶ 30 (b) Does not arise.