Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-10-10

Provision of infrastructure facilities to Model villages of 'Semata Sevana' and 'Grama Shakthi'

- In accordance with the Island wide survey conducted in the year 2016 in respect of the housing needs, it has been identified that there are 216,197 low income families living without a house of their own. In order to provide them with housing ownership, the Ministry of Housing and Construction has commenced the implementation of 'Semata Sevana' and 'Grama Shakthi' Model Village programmes, treating it as high priority development programmes with a target of constructing 2,500 model villages by the year 2020.

It is highly essential to allocate lands for the construction of new settlements, develop access roads, provide for drinking water facilities as well as electricity for the successful implementation of these programmes. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Sajith Premadasa, the Minister of Housing and Construction, to accord priority within the ongoing and the new development of the 2500 model villages anticipated for construction, was approved by the Cabinet.