•  To decide on repairs, reconstruction, relocation 

The Housing Ministry has launched a survey covering 95 public housing complexes in Colombo to assess housing conditions, identify residents’ socio-economic challenges and determine the improvements needed to enhance their living conditions.

According to the Ministry, housing standards have evolved over time, and families living in houses that no longer meet the required standards may be provided with new housing.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Housing Minister T.B. Sarath said reliable data was necessary to identify the actual problems faced by residents of public housing complexes, prompting the Ministry to launch the survey.

“There are 95 public housing complexes in Colombo, and they face various issues. We are looking into the condition of each complex, what needs to be changed, and whether families can live comfortably in their houses considering the number of family members. For instance, earlier, the standard was 450 square feet per room of a unit, but this is no longer adequate. These houses need to be expanded if needed, depending on the size of the family,” he said.

He added that once data had been collected from all the housing complexes, the Ministry would analyse the findings and determine which buildings require repairs, which apartment complexes need to be rebuilt and what other improvements are necessary to address residents’ needs.

The survey comes as a report by the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development has indicated that 45 public housing projects, comprising nearly 10,000 housing units, most of them in Colombo, have exceeded their structural lifespan and are slated for redevelopment.

Meanwhile, information from the Urban Development Authority and reports presented to Parliament have also highlighted the deterioration of several older public housing schemes and municipal flats in inner-city Colombo, attributing it to decades of neglect, overcrowding and inadequate maintenance.