Families displaced by the 2017 Dodangoda landslide will finally move into new homes following a foundation-laying ceremony held this week, marking the end of a decade-long wait for permanent housing.

Residents of Wogan Estate in Dodangoda, Kalutara, who lost their homes in the 2017 landslide disaster, are set to receive permanent accommodation after spending nearly nine years in displacement. A foundation-laying ceremony for the new housing project took place on Wednesday under the oversight of Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, according to the Ministry of Health.

The Rs. 57.6 million initiative, coordinated through the Ministry of Plantation Community Infrastructure, will deliver 16 complete houses designed with two bedrooms, living areas, kitchens, bathrooms, and toilet facilities. The construction timeline targets completion by December 2026, with all units to be handed over to designated families by year's end. Beyond the housing structures themselves, the project encompasses development of road infrastructure, electricity connections, and drinking water systems to support safe and sustainable living conditions.

Minister Jayatissa highlighted the significance of housing as more than physical structures, describing them as foundational to family stability and well-being. He noted that authorities distributed Rs. 1 million per household to low-income families across Kalutara District during the previous year, enabling completion of 136 houses, with budgets allocated for over 200 additional homes this year. The broader reconstruction effort extends to 175 houses planned across multiple Divisional Secretariat areas throughout estate communities.

The government plans to accompany housing provision with supplementary support measures including concessionary loans, financial assistance, and self-employment opportunities. Minister Jayatissa stated that beneficiary selection processes will operate without political bias or favoritism, emphasizing government commitment to transparent and equitable procedures.