No more slums in Colombo

By Kushali Atukorale
Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff yesterday declared that some 65,000 houses would be built within the next two years in Colombo, to house the needy currently living in slums.

The move, it is noted is a step towards eliminating slums from Colombo, towards making it a ‘hub’ in Asia.

“We are planning to remove all slums and hovels and build better houses for the poor who are now housed in these,” she told at a news conference held at her Ministry in Battaramulla.

She also asserted that plans were underway to evacuate people who were living illegally in government-owned lands in Colombo. According to her, such lands that located within the city limits and also in the outskirts of the city would be used for the construction of the houses for the poor.

“We have already started to build around 255 houses in Kollonnawa,” she said.

Ashraff noted that despite October 1 being declared the World Habitat Day, the government still had a wider focus on children.

Taking into consideration that October 1 is also the World Children’s Day and since children are the future generation of the nation, the government has organised an essay and art competitions and has given special reference to the children of north and east.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has organised several projects commencing from September 27 on prevention and management of natural disasters, which include proposed development plan for Kandy and the plan to minimise natural disasters with the expectation of establishing a safe city.