The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) has announced plans to redevelop government-owned apartment complexes in the Colombo District that are over 40 years old, with work scheduled to commence next year.
The announcement was made during a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development in Parliament, chaired by MP S.M. Marikkar.
According to NHDA officials, the Colombo District has 45 apartment housing projects exceeding four decades in age, comprising approximately 10,000 housing units. The committee chairman has instructed the NHDA to submit, within one month, a detailed report on how the redevelopment will be carried out, including arrangements for current residents.
Officials said technical and valuation assessments of the existing buildings will be conducted, and the redevelopment will follow a public–private partnership model. Based on these findings, the committee has requested a comprehensive report containing all relevant project details.
The NHDA also revealed that approximately 45,000 housing units initiated between 2015 and 2019 remain incomplete due to various setbacks. A plan has now been prepared to complete construction within three years.
The meeting further addressed the need to attract greater investment in condominium development projects. Officials highlighted the challenges in securing such investments, prompting the chairman to direct the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing to develop a legally sound mechanism to improve inter-ministerial coordination and accelerate the issuance of permits, ensuring timely and effective project implementation.
