May 10, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday handed over 437 houses constructed under the 'Niwasak Wenuwata Jivitayak' program implemented by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development and the Urban Development Authority, to the people at the Siyapath Sevana new housing scheme in Dematagoda.

The housing project, implemented to provide better housing facilities to the underprivileged people in the City of Colombo, was launched under the program to settle over 50,000 families living in 1,500 dwellings, under minimum facilities in Colombo city, in apartment complexes with all facilities.

The fully fledged housing units encompassing all modern facilities have been constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.748 billion.

Under the program 1,874 houses built at a cost of Rs. 7.496 billion during 2016 and 2017 have been handed over to the people. Another 1,439 houses built at a cost of Rs. 5.756 billion will be handed over to the people by the end of 2018.

The Urban Development Authority is presently constructing 9,100 houses at a cost of Rs. 42.33 billion to hand over to the public by 2020 The new housing schemes for low income families will be constructed in areas of Henamulla, Dematagoda, Angoda, Mattakkuliya, Maligawatte, Kolonnawa and Bloemendhal.

The new housing complex not only offers the facility to live in a new house, but also opens a new life as community development programs to uplift the livelihood of the people and to provide opportunities to develop skills on sports, education, health and leadership have been facilitated.

The President, who assigned the new housing complex to the people by unveiling the commemoration plaque, later engaged in an observational tour of the complex. He also visited the smart childhood development center constructed attached to the housing scheme.

The President symbolically handed over keys to 10 housing units to the beneficiaries.

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Member of Parliament S.M. Marikkar, Mujibur Rahuman, Western Provincial Councilor Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe, Chief Organizer for the Borella Electorate Attorney at Law, Ajith Pathirana, and Director General of Urban Development Authority Sumedha Ratnayake and other public officials were present at the event.