Obesekarapura housing project resumes

2026-02-12 - 08:48

Construction on the Arunodaya Mawatha Apartment Project in Obeysekarapura officially resumed today (Feb. 12), after being abandoned since 2020 due to the financial crisis and political instability. The restart was inaugurated by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake, and Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara. The 15-story complex will feature 300 housing units (500 sq. ft. each) and is backed by a Rs. 2,939.49 million investment from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The Urban Development Authority (UDA) aims to complete the project within 18 months. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara delivered a sharp critique of past urban housing efforts, labeling existing units “tents” rather than homes. “A house is not just four walls; it is a place of social security. We are taking on the challenge of converting these into safe, comfortable dwellings,” he stated. The Deputy Minister highlighted a stark deficit: while a 2010 survey identified a need for 60,000 urban houses in Colombo, only 14,000 have been built to date—many of which he described as “unlivable.” To address this, the government has launched a Rs. 500 billion modernization program to renovate 24 existing apartment complexes that have fallen into decay. Following recent tragedies involving structural failures in public housing, a special committee of three UDA directors has been formed under Minister Bimal Ratnayake’s direction to ensure safety standards. The government’s broader roadmap includes: Completing 3 major housing projects within this year. Constructing 7,000 new houses over the next two years. Restructuring the UDA to prioritize resident welfare over mere land clearing. The event was attended by Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, UDA Chairman M.G. Hemachandra, and hundreds of local residents. (dailynews.lk) (Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)