COLOMBO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved the establishment of a National Housing Operations Committee to oversee the country's housing program in 2026, according to a statement issued by the Department of Government Information on Tuesday.
The committee will provide technical guidance, address supervision gaps and monitor implementation of housing projects, the statement said.
It also plans to review and update the current National Housing Policy, with a focus on participatory planning, economic productivity, environmental protection, social inclusion and cultural suitability.
The government has identified housing shortages as a major social issue affecting low-income families, estate communities, persons with disabilities, fishing communities, the urban homeless and people displaced for various reasons.
Housing projects are currently carried out by ministries, affiliated institutions, provincial councils, local authorities, non-governmental organizations and the private sector under different systems, with responsibilities spread across multiple agencies, the statement added.
Sri Lanka has allocated nearly 100 billion rupees (about 334 million U.S. dollars) for housing construction in 2026 and said a national-level coordinating mechanism is needed to meet its targets. ■