The government has planned to construct 70 thousand housing unit for the low income families living in the Colombo city. 5000 housing units will be completed and handed over to the relevant families before the end of this year. 15 thousand more houses are to be constructed next year. The government's aim is to replace all shanties and low facility houses with substantial houses by the year 2020.

These projects are under taken by the Urban Development Authority in its mid-term programmes under the inspiration and the drive of the Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

(ST/KH)