Feb 20, Colombo: Sri Lankan authorities plan to provide housing facilities to 70,000 families living in poor conditions within the city of Colombo.

The Urban Development Authority (UDA) under the 'Resettlement of Underserved Settlements Project will provide the housing facilities to these families.

Under the City of Colombo Development Plan, the government will construct high rise apartments with all common amenities to resettle the shanty dwellers and to free the prime land currently squatted by them for commercial and mixed development projects.

Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at an event in Colombo has said that 70,000 families will be provided with housing facilities in high-rise buildings designed and constructed according to standards.

According to Secretary Rajapaksa these buildings will come up in close proximity to the original homes of these families.

He has explained that the people would therefore not have a problem in sending their children to schools and continuing in their jobs.

The construction of the housing units is already in progress and is expected to be completed within the next 2 years.