Back in the year of 2015 when the so called “YAHAPALANAYA” came into power, a certain promise was made by the Housing and Construction Minister Mr. Sajith Premadasa that a golden era in the field of housing and programmes will be initiated to build 500,000 houses for the needy. The programme was implemented parallel to the 100 days programme of the government to build 50,000 houses in 25 districts for low income dwellers. It was stated that 25,000 houses with uncompleted construction work from all the 25 districts and assist them to complete unfinished houses. Premadasa stated that during the former Ranasinghe Premadasa’s term, attempts were made to uplift rural areas through the Gam Udawa (village awakening) programme.
But recently a statement was made regarding certain frauds that has been taking place within the Housing Ministry. It was stated that though the Ministry had promised to give free houses to the poor and needy, never in the Sri Lankan history has FREE HOUSES been distributed as said so. Since 1979 the housing loans that had been issued to the public is still being paid by the public to the Ministry and for 40 years long the Housing Ministry has been running on that money that the public has been giving back to them. It was also stated that in certain areas, even though 25 houses are built only 5 houses are occupied by the needy. The rest is given to the U.N.P party members. Clearly they don’t have a reason to live within those houses so all those houses are closed down.
During the 100 day programme issued in 2015, a housing loan of Rs.100,000 was to be provided to the needy and poor but at the end that money was given a certain list consisting of U.N.P ministers and organizers. Some families consisting of six members were even granted the housing loan of Rs.100,000 each. Due to this the Housing Ministry’s income has dropped drastically throughout the past 4 years and the expense within the ministry has increased. While this happens, 4600 government workers mostly from the Hambantota district to work in the Puttalam office were taken in with a daily wage of Rs. 500. Further stating that when only Rs. 10 million is the total of twenty five houses’ housing loan, a total of Rs. 13.3 million is spent only for the opening ceremony of a village. An amount Rs. 237,000 is spent just for the memorial stone that is placed in every village. It was also stated that due this programme land that has been brought by the Ministry in order to build these villages is nothing but a waste when housing flats can be built with a livable environment.
Has this been a fraud since 1979? Our we seriously going to leave our country’s future and our citizens’ future in the hands of aliar and robber? Think wisely.
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