President identifies shortcomings in the national economic policy

President Mahinda Rajapakse identifies shortcomings in the national economic policy as the source of the issue of shanty dwellers. He noted that the shortage of dwellings for the masses drawn into the country’s economic centre Colombo has resulted in illegal construction.
The president said the target of the government is to ensure that each family has a house. As a result the government is implementing programmes such as “Diyawara” which solves the housing problem of fishermen and “Arunodaya” which addresses the problems of shanty dwellers.
The president made these statements at a function held at the presidential secretariat to present ownership rights for 250 houses constructed under the “Arunodaya” programme. At the function minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the “Arunodaya” programme was carried out utilising the one percent tax obtained from large houses built in cities. He said under the programme houses are being constructed in 10 cities.