Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara said the programme is being carried out under the direction of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, with urgent measures already in place to meet the target.
He made these remarks to the media yesterday (February 16, 2026) following a field inspection of the ‘Stadiumgama’ housing complex under construction on Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha in Colombo 14.
The Deputy Minister said the Government is focused not merely on constructing buildings, but on creating livable and socially responsible settlements.
“When handing over a house, not just a building but a habitable dwelling should be provided. The ministry has paid attention to providing a dwelling that fulfills social responsibilities, not just as a structure,” he said.
He noted that several issues currently exist in urban housing complexes, adding that some have become “more like cages than houses.” Authorities are therefore assessing improvements related to security, social facilities and comfort before residents move in.
According to him, three such apartment projects are scheduled to be delivered this year, while 7,000 new urban housing units are expected to be provided to Colombo’s urban communities over the next two years.
Gunasekara stressed that maintaining housing complexes is more a social issue than a legal one, emphasizing the need to empower communities and ensure proper management systems.
Families transitioning from individual homes to apartment living must adapt to shared rules and collective living arrangements, he said, adding that government intervention will continue to address residents’ social needs alongside necessary regulatory amendments.
