- The Urban Development Authority during the period between 1980-1990 while acquiring lands for the implementation of various development projects has provided the low and medium scale income families which were residing in such lands and lost their shelters with alternative residences and as well as plots of land for construction of houses on monthly rentals or on the basis of monthly land rentals. The proposal made by Hon. Rauff Hakeem, the Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage, to vest the ownership of lands with the residents of the relevant plots of land in the Housing Schemes at Ratnapura, Peliyagoda, Battaramulla, Ratmalana and Madiwela, on the basis of commercial value that prevailed at the time of providing lands to them, upon the request made by the occupants of these lands, was approved by the Cabinet.