The Urban Development and Housing Ministry has launched an investigation into the housing projects conducted by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa during his tenure as the Housing Minister of the Yahapalana government (2015-2019).

Alleging that the then Deputy Leader of the UNP had distributed housing loans, etc., in violation of proper procedures, Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga recently directed the NHDA (National Housing Development Authority) to initiate an investigation.

A statement issued by the Ministry yesterday (17) quoted Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga as having said that the construction of 38,815 houses in 2,150 ‘reawakened villages’ hadn’t been completed. The Minister placed the number of houses his predecessor undertook to build during the Yahapalana administration at 42,610. According to the statement, the Minister has issued instructions to the NHDA to complete those houses.

According to Minister Ranatunga, who is also the Chief Government Whip, during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s time, the government completed 2,795 unfinished projects in eight ‘reawakened villages.’ The Minister claimed that the Covid-19 epidemic prevented the government from completing more houses.

Minister Ranatunga faulted the SJB leader for distributing funds allocated for a particular village among several villages and favoured treatment to residents of the Hambantota district. Premadasa represents the Hambantota district.

SJB leader Sajith Premadasa said that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government couldn’t pull the wool over the eyes of the people by such silly attempts. Lawmaker Premadasa, who is also the leader of the Opposition, questioned why the Rajapaksa government waited so long to initiate an inquiry.

The SJB leader said so when The Island sought his response to Minister Ranatunga’s latest accusations. The SJB leader also said that the government made a desperate bid in Parliament to find fault with him over utilization of funds belonging to the Central Cultural Fund.

The way the government had protected Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after the National Audit Office exposed the sordid operations of the SLC’s top management proved the hopeless situation the country was in, MP Premadasa said. The Opposition Leader said that he was being targeted for taking up issues at hand, both in and outside Parliament.

Minister Ranatunga said that in addition to the 38,815 unfinished houses during Premadasa’s time, there were 98,000 uncompleted houses. The Minister said that Rs 24,000 mn was required to complete 98,000 houses. The Gampaha District lawmaker has asked the NHDA to prepare a suitable plan to raise funds required to complete the project (SF)