Two housing blocks for low income earners embroils in land dispute
By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): The Chinese funded two Colombo housing schemes for low income earners. have faced a stumbling block due to land ownership dispute between the Colombo Municipality and the Urban Development Authority (UDA), Minister Prasanna Ranatunge disclosed.
He directed the officials of the two institutions to enter into an agreement on this matter and sign an MOU to commence the construction work of the two housing projects as soon as possible.
The relevant two blocks of lands in Colombo have been taken over by the UDA in 2019 in accordance with Clause 30 of the urban development authority act.
The acquisition of the two lands is now embroiled in a legal tussle between the CMC and UDA following a court case filed by the Colombo Municipality challenging the land ownership.
The Court has ordered to settle the land dispute amicably by the two state entities vai consultations compromise and consensus. The Chinese government has also informed the Sri Lankan authorities to settle the matter without any internal disagreement.
The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, says the construction work of 1996 housing units with the assistance of the Chinese government for low-income earners, creative artists and journalists will be signed after the settling of the land dispute.
Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga says that 108 housing units of those 1996 units will be allocated to the creative artists and journalists of Sri Lanka.
Those housing schemes will be built in the Palathuru Watta area of Kottawa. According to the Minister, 1888 housing units will be allocated for low income earners in Colombo.
The housing schemes for low income earners will be delayed due to the tug of war between the CMC and the UDA, he said.
The Chinese government will provide financial assistance of 552 million yuan (US$ 76 million) to Sri Lanka for this housing project.
The government of Sri Lanka bears the tax money spent for this project, the cost of land acquisition, the cost of land development, the cost of design work and preparing the basic price list, the cost of tender work and the cost of sewage facilities.
Urban Development and Housing Minister Mr. Prasanna Ranatunga says that through this project, a permanent solution will be found for the settlement problem of the residents of settlements with less facilities.
