Mar 09, Colombo: The Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities of Sri Lanka says 20,000 new houses for low income families are now being constructed in the capital Colombo city under the Colombo City Revival programme.

These multi-storied housing complexes are being constructed at Mayura Place in Dematagoda, Wanathamulla and Borella.

About 90 percent of the construction work of the three housing complexes is completed and the Ministry expects to open them before the end of this year.

Initially, these houses will be distributed to 2,500 low income families.

The Ministry has made arrangements to construct 40,117 houses this year at a cost of Rs. 9.65 billion, with the assistance of the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA).

The construction work of the remaining 20,000 houses will start next month, the Ministry says.

Under the program, 80 percent of these houses upon construction will be distributed to low income families in the Colombo city while the rest will be handed over to people living in existing housing complexes which cannot be renovated.

All housing complexes in the city limits are now being renovated by the Ministry.

Construction of these houses is part of a government's mission to construct one million houses for the country's homeless people.