The national ceremony to mark World Habitat Day was held yesterday at Temple Trees under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Coinciding with the United Nations’ World Habitat Day, this year’s national commemoration was held under the theme “A Place to Belong – A Beautiful Life.” The period from 1st to 5th October was declared Habitat Week, during which a series of housing-related programmes were conducted across the country, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
As part of the government’s housing development programme implemented by the National Housing Development Authority, 1,000 newly completed houses were officially handed over to low-income beneficiaries via digital technology. The initiative aims to provide homes for nearly 4,000 underprivileged families who lack the financial means to build their own houses.
During the event, President Dissanayake also received the symbolic presentation of the Ambatale Water Supply Project, which is to be implemented with the assistance of the Government of India and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), facilitated by UN-Habitat Sri Lanka.
In addition, under a programme to provide land deeds to 1,000 beneficiaries whose ownership documents had been delayed, 357 deeds were symbolically presented. Under another initiative, financial assistance of Rs. 1 million each was provided to selected low-income families, with 157 recipients receiving cheques from the President.
Marking World Habitat Day, the President also presented awards to the winners of the islandwide art competition and other Urban Development Authority programmes. He also visited an art and housing design exhibition showcasing the creativity of schoolchildren and innovative housing concepts.
Addressing the event, Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing Anura Karunathilaka stated that the government has launched a comprehensive programme to fulfil the housing aspirations of the people. He highlighted the importance of a systematic housing plan and a national dialogue on creating safe, comfortable, and dignified living conditions for all citizens.
The UN Secretary-General’s message for World Habitat Day, delivered by Harshini Halangoda, Programme Manager of UN-Habitat in Sri Lanka, was also presented at the ceremony.
Among the attendees were Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Housing T. B. Sarath, Western Province Governor Haniff Yusuf, Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazar, Indian High Commission First Secretary (Political) Navya Singla, and senior officials from the Urban Development Authority and the President’s Office.
