Colossal waste of resources: around 100,000 Govt - sponsored housing units abandoned

• 92,000 launched during 2015-2019, 6982 during 2020-2022 

By Kelum Bandara   

In what appeared to a startling revelation on waste of public resources , 92,000 housing units started during the 2015/2019 period and another 6982 units started during the 2020/2022 period - all in various stages of construction - have been abandoned , according to a report compiled by the Committee on Public Finance of Parliament.  

The Committee that met under Opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka as its acting chairman has worked out the report highlighting the current status of these housing projects launched under government sponsored loan schemes .  

Mr. Ranawaka said these housing units had sometimes been assigned to people on political considerations.   
Besides , 3000 housing schemes initiated by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) in Colombo for low and middle income families have been suspended since funds available for them have been repurposed for essential activities due to the economic crisis .