Fifty families displaced by a 2023 landslide in Kabaragala will receive newly constructed houses on August 28, ending years of difficult living conditions in an abandoned tea factory.
Families affected by the Kabaragala landslide that occurred on March 19, 2023, are set to move into permanent housing this week as part of the government's "Navodayapuram" housing initiative. The handover ceremony is scheduled for August 28 under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The 50 families have endured nearly three and a half years of hardship living in an abandoned tea factory since losing their homes in the disaster. Each household will now receive approximately 10 perches of land along with a 550-square-foot dwelling equipped with two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. According to project documentation, the construction cost per house amounted to roughly Rs. 3.2 million.
Beyond shelter, the government has allocated additional support to aid the families' transition. Essential household and kitchen items valued at approximately Rs. 175,000 per family were distributed on Tuesday, August 25. These provisions aim to enable residents to establish themselves in their new homes with basic necessities already in place.
The project represents part of the administration's broader initiative to enhance living standards for the Malayaga community under its "A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life" policy framework. Officials characterize the housing scheme as addressing both immediate shelter needs and long-term community development for families previously residing in unsafe conditions.
