Instead of regretting the lost excellent opportunities, only an awakening of attitude can be used to practice the future opportunities for the good of all. Consequently, I invite you to celebrate the 36th World Habitat Day.

It has been more than half a century since we gained independence. Many other countries in the region and the world that had a lower socio-economic status than Sri Lanka have already passed us by. It is a challenging task to develop a country without long-term national policies that help to achieve sustainable development from an export-led innovative economy.

With the upcoming 75th independence celebration, in our next 25-year plan, we all hope to build a society that will lead us to live happily in our own home with our beloved family. We as a government are already working for make this wish a reality. Plans are underway to start construction of 2,000 housing units for low-income families in conjunction with the 75th Independence Day. This project will not only benefit the urban areas but will also benefit the semi-urban area populations. The government's goal is to solve the housing needs of low-income families living in rural and urban areas in an efficient and humane manner. Irrespective of personal agendas, we will introduce a proper method when vesting them to the public.
Sensitize the local and global challenges that affect us in pursuit of goals; it is everyone's responsibility to engage in self-conversation and provide appropriate answers. Long-term policies, laws and programs that can successfully deal with the emerging problem are the need of the hour. I see the need for all of us to work together for the country.

Remembering again, the need to revise deeply to build a society with no one left behind and no gaps, I extend my heartiest greetings to the celebration of World Habitat 2022.

Ranil Wickramasinghe
02.10.2022