Govt. urged to follow Premadasa housing policy

Foreign policy analyst Kusum Wijetilaka, in a statement issued to mark the World Habitat Day, Oct 03, said that the incumbent government should follow former President Ranasinghe Premadasa vision in providing shelter to all Sri Lankans.Wijetilaka said: “The world recognizes the importance of shelter as a basic human right and acknowledge the need to provide housing to the needy.

In fact, it was former President Ranasinghe Premadasa who suggested that that year 1987 be declared the international year of shelter for the homeless. In recognition of the success of Gam Udawa implemented in line with the Premadasa Chintanaya , the UN invited the then Prime Minister Premadasa to address the assembly.

During his address, Premadasa reiterated his belief that every human being was entitled to own a house. The Report of the Commission on Human Settlements in 1985 quoted Premier Premadasa as having said that the international Year of Shelter for the Homeless must become ‘part of a larger morale crusade to improve the quality of life for human beings’ and that the credibility of the international community was at stake. PM Premadasa spoke of the need for each and every country prioritizing shelter for all. In his address, the Premier also underscored the importance of policy of settlements within development efforts and the need for regional groups to provide what he called localized solutions.”