New look for city housing schemes soon

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The Government has allocated Rs. 1,000 million to effect urgent repairs to city housing schemes of the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) at the request of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

Most of the NHDA housing schemes constructed many years ago are in need of urgent repairs at present.

NHDA General Manager L.S. Palansuriya said that over 40,000 families live in the city housing schemes which had been constructed during the 1970s. Proper maintenance or repairs could not be done due to financial constraints, he said.

Minister Weerawansa inspected most of the city housing schemes recently following requests by residents. Last week he paid a surprise visit to the Sahasrapura Housing Scheme at Wanathamulla accompanied by Colombo District MP Thilanga Sumathipala and directed the officials to attend to urgent repairs.

Repairs to the ground floor and the roofs alone will cost around Rs. 4 million.