FOCUS ON ‘THURU ITHURUGAMA’ HOUSES IN OYAMADUWA

People request for investigation and reallocation of govt. built houses

The majority of houses in “Thuru Ithurugama “housing complex constructed under the “Deyata Kirula “programme in Oyamaduwa in 2012 during the previous government has been forgotten. People living in the housing scheme said the houses were already in a dilapidated condition due to substandard construction.

The housing complex constructed by the Housing and Construction Ministry had been declared open in 2013 by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and then Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, and Common Amenities Wimal Weerawansa to settle families facing flood threats when Malwatu Oya overflowed every year.

Residents of the area said the allocation of several houses had gone by political favour and that individuals who owned them were confidantes of leading politicians then in power and senior officials. They said the owners who visit the area once in a way, stay for a couple of days and go off again. They pointed out that another eight houses had not yet been given to anyone for occupation and that the abandoned houses had turned into a haven for individuals engaging in nefarious activities including prostitution.

They said each house had cost more than Rs.2.million and that it was a colossal waste of state funds. They requested Minister of Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa to hold a formal investigation into the irregularities and to allocate the houses to the most deserving people.