Cabinet approves Housing Plan for Unauthorized Railway Line Residents

The initiative is part of the Colombo Suburban Railway Project, which focuses on relocating residents from the railway reserve stretching from the Maligawatte Loco junction to the Padukka railway station. As of now, 694 families have been resettled in housing units purchased from the Urban Development Authority (UDA). An additional 144 units will be provided by the UDA in the near future.

To accommodate residents in areas UDA housing projects are not available, a new housing complex with 120 units is under construction in Malapalla, Kottawa, on land owned by the Sri Lanka Railway Department. This complex will serve families in Maharagama, Homagama, and Padukka. Construction of these units is progressing rapidly.

The Cabinet approved a proposal by the Minister of Transport to transfer Malapalla land and its housing complex to the National Housing Development Authority as a free grant under Section 6(1) of the Government Land Ordinance.

Furthermore, the government has ensured that the beneficiaries of the program will receive their housing deeds without being burdened with additional costs, providing a secure and affordable solution for displaced residents.