Apartment housing for public servants

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Government is taking steps to provide a lasting solution to the shelter problem of public servants commencing with a massive project to construct 25,000 apartment style housing units in different parts of the country.

Under this project, the Public Administration Ministry has already commenced constructing housing schemes in Habaraduwa, Unawatuna and Wakwella in the Galle district, Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama told a media briefing yesterday.

The Cabinet has also granted approval to construct another housing scheme in Kundasale. In addition, the Ministry has also earmarked similar housing schemes for public servants in Biyagama, Avissawella, Homagama and Kurunegala areas, the Minister said.

Dr. Amunugama said President Mahinda Rajapakse has laid special emphasis on overcoming the housing problem of public servants.

The Ministry will sign agreements with public servants willing to purchase these houses. They will be sold at concessionary rates. Once the public servants sign agreements, credit facilities will be provided by State banks.

The loan will be deducted from their monthly salaries in instalments, he said.

The Ministry will sign agreements with the BOI to start construction.

"Government servants who sacrifice their entire service for the public, often encounter dire circumstances once they complete their long service.

The pension given to them is not sufficient to meet their requirements even to purchase a piece of land or build a house. Therefore, the Government has taken immediate measures to provide a lasting solution to public servants' housing problem," the Minister said.