Work on one million units to commence in January:

Housing development projects will be expedited - Minister Weerawansa

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Sri Lanka's housing requirement currently is little over one million according to a recent survey.

The public and private sector organisations such as ministries, departments, corporations, banks and private sector companies are being mobilised to meet this challenge, said Young and Energetic Cabinet Minister of Construction, Engineering Services Housing and Common Amenities and NFF leader, Wimal Weerawansa in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer.

He said mega housing project of one million houses will be launched islandwide in January 2011.

The excerpts of the interview:

Minister Weerawansa explaining a point at the Janasetha mobile service at the Mattakkuliya Housing Scheme.

Community participation in building houses with financial assistance from NHDA.

Minister Weerawansa presents a deed to a disabled soldier

A house built by NHDA at Nawalapitiya to mark the SAARC Conference held in Sri Lanka

Q: Rightthoroughout you have taken a tough line against the alleged foreign interference in Sri Lanka's domestic matters such as the appointment of a UN committee to probe the government's humanitarian operation on the eve of LTTE's capitulation and the cancellation of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa's speech at the Oxford University, could you explain.

A: Capitalist countries do not favour the stability and development in Third World countries such as ours.

They extend patronage to terrorist organisations who work tooth and nail to divide countries and create internal problems.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the sole political leader who defeated the wold's most ruthless terrorist out-fit the LTTE through a humanitarian operation. Sudan was divided and a new South Sudan was carved out as a separate country. Kosovo also faced the more or less the same fate - and finally Serbian leader died as an alleged war crime prisoner. Russian former President Vladimir Putin stopped attempts at carving out Chechniya. Capitalists are eagerly waiting to witness President Mahinda Rajapaksa becoming weaker.

He appear to them as an unpardonable enemy who defeated their pet, the LTTE. Patriotic movements in the country should realise this danger and rally round the President.

During the last 60 years or more Kashmir remained a serious problem to India. Tibet and Taiwan continue to oppose China and here too the capitalist forces have lined up to weaken India and China.

Q: According to a recent research over 41 percent of Sri Lankans earn less than US $ 2 a day. This may be perhaps an exaggeration. you will agree that the man in the street deserves a change for the better. Are you satisfied with the way the government addresses the average man's problems, specially the high cost of living and low income?

A: During the past 30 years when the LTTE caused havoc in the country the people viewed their problems with equanimity. It is not realistic to seek solutions to all the problems of the people after the cessation of hostilities. The government post conflict performance shows that Sri Lanka is moving in the right path for development.

The eight percent GDP growth in the country is second to China and India due to proper economic management of the government.

The construction industry is fast developing. Thousands of hotel rooms are being built to cater to the increasing tourists arrivals which have risen by 44 percent compared to the previous year. There will be enormous job opportunities in the tourist sector. A sense of confidence is built in our expatriates to remit their earnings to the country. Discipline and progress could be observed in all sections of the society. The Colombo city is undergoing considerable changes. These changes will auger well for a future devoid of discrimination. No doubt we are heading towards a better tomorrow.

Sri Lanka too had the bitter experience of facing the threat of coups hatched against its development and stability. western capitalists are waiting for an opportunity to tarnish the image of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It is up to the patriotic movements in the country to be vigilant against anti-national elements and nip them in the bud.

Q: It is appropriate to evaluate your performance as one of the dynamic and young ministers in the Cabinet. As Minister of Construction Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities what changes have you effected to ensure the speedy development of your work program.

A: We have set a target of building one million houses within the next five years to be launched at the beginning of 2011.

The new housing secretariat which will coordinate all housing development projects was opened at Pelawatta last Thursday.

The construction and housing projects are being handled by various institutions such as banks, ministries, departments. The new mechanism for coordination will expedite all housing development projects. When I assumed duties as Minister of the Construction, I noticed that the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) - the main arm of the housing ministry to develop the housing sector was facing a natural death.

NHDA has been revitalised to face challenges in the housing construction sector.

NHDA will grant loans to or build houses under the one million housing project. There was no proper data bank with NHDA on their lands or properties islandwide.

During the last six months, NHDA collected information and fed them into the computerised data bank.

Q: There are over 100 housing schemes within the Colombo city neglected by the NHDA. Your comments:

A: A major problems faced by the house owners or the tenants specially in the Colombo city is that the authorities had failed to ensure the maintenance of housing projects.

The Common Amenities Board was dismantled by the UNP government under Ranil Wickremesinghe and a condominium authority was set up instead.

They expected to hand over the maintenance work of the housing schemes to condominium management societies. But it was a total failure under the 2011 Budget provision had been made for repairs and maintenance of housing schemes. Initially three housing projects in the city will be revived soon in the hope of completing the remainder in due course.

Q:The engineering and construction sector had a set back before you assumed duties. What is the present situation?

A: The construction sector had achieved a remarkable progress during the last seven months. State Engineering Corporation (SEC) has recorded a profit of Rs. 204 million as at September 30, 2010.

The State development and Construction Corporation is being restructured. Priority will be given to these two institutions in the award of tenders for construction of government buildings as instructed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Institution for Construction Training and Development (ICTAD) will be revitalised in to an active arm of the housing and construction development program. A project to upgrade carpenters and mason's skills and to give proper recognition to their profession will be launched soon.

Q: You had launched the Janasetha mobile service a few months ago for the benefit of residents in city condominium and under served settlements. Could you explain?

A: Most of the housing schemes were launched over three decades ago. The Navagampura, Wanathamulla Baseline Housing Schemes are in need of urgent infrastructure improvements.

The main objective of the Janasetha mobile service was to identify the urgent problems in such housing schemes. Temporary solutions will not solve the outstanding problems. Our aim is to repair and rehabilitate all housing schemes and hand them back to the management societies set up by the residents.

Rs. 1,000 million had been allocated by the Budget 2011 for repairs to housing schemes, to be undertaken in January.