Special project to ensure safety of old housing schemes

Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga yesterday directed the relevant authorities to immediately begin a special programme to ensure

 the safety of the residents of all housing schemes that are over 40 years old. Accordingly, the Minister has also instructed them to obtain a technical report regarding the standards and conditions of existing housing schemes from a government-recognized institution.

Accordingly, Urban Development and Housing Ministry Secretary W.S.Sathyananda said that the National Building Research Organization or any other public institution will conduct research on such buildings and will submit formal technical reports.

Accordingly, if it is confirmed that it is unsafe, the Minister of Housing has the ability to acquire the related property in accordance with the powers assigned to the Minister under Section 10 of the Condominium Management Authority Act No. 24 of 2003.

The Condominium Management Authority has informed the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing about 8 housing complexes identified as unsafe.

According to the relevant report, 869 houses and 619 shops are unsafe in the housing schemes of Wakanda Housing Scheme, Bambalapitiya Housing Scheme, Prince Street Housing Scheme, Siridhamma Mawatha Housing Scheme, Kamkarupura Housing Scheme, several buildings in Maligawatta Housing Scheme and Mihindu Mawatha Housing Scheme.