Sri Lanka: President Anura Kumara Directs Immediate Completion of National Housing Projects

Source: This article was prepared based on an article published by Dasatha Lanka News / Kavika Tharunindu Ashirwad Gamarathne.

By Lions Roar News National Desk

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (January 3, 2026) — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued a strong directive to state officials to expedite all national housing projects funded under the 2026 Budget. Emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing a “place to belong,” the President ordered that all ongoing and planned constructions be completed within their original timeframes and handed over to the public without delay.

The President issued these instructions during a high-level review meeting held on Friday (January 2) at the Presidential Secretariat with senior officials from the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA).

📑 “A Place to Belong – A Beautiful Life”

The centerpiece of the discussion was the newly launched 2026 flagship housing program, titled “Thamangema Thanak – Lassana Jeevithayak” (A Place of Your Own – A Beautiful Life).

Key Budget Allocations Reviewed:

Low-Income Housing: A massive Rs. 10.2 billion (Rs. 10,200 million) has been allocated for the construction of houses specifically for low-income families across the island.
Resettlement of Displaced Persons: A separate Rs. 5 billion (Rs. 5,000 million) fund is dedicated to building permanent homes for those still displaced following the long-term conflict in the North and East.

President Dissanayake personally scrutinized the architectural plans, current construction progress, and the target completion dates for these two massive social welfare projects.

🏗️ Clearing the Backlog

In addition to new projects, the President turned his attention to the “unfinished business” of previous administrations.

NHDA Backlog: Thousands of housing units started in prior years remain incomplete due to funding gaps or mismanagement.
The Directive: The President ordered the NHDA to prioritize these stalled projects, stating that leaving half-finished structures is a waste of state resources and a disservice to waiting families.
Central Coordination: To prevent future delays, the President called for the monitoring of all housing projects to be centralized under a single coordinating body to ensure better accountability and transparency.

👥 Top Officials in Attendance

The meeting included a wide array of cabinet and financial leadership to ensure the housing directives were backed by budgetary support:

Dr. Susil Ranasinghe (Minister of Housing, Construction, and Water Supply)
T.B. Sarath (Deputy Minister of Housing)
L. Kumudu Lal Bogahawatte (Secretary to the Ministry of Housing)
J.K. Aravinda Srinath (Chairman of the NHDA)
Senior officials from the Department of National Budget and the Treasury.