Sri Lanka has inaugurated two new model villages built with Indian financial support, handing over housing units to 48 families across the two locations. The project, funded through an India-Sri Lanka agreement, aims to provide homes for low-income families nationwide.
Two newly constructed model villages—Nanda Gama in Kegalle and Jana Aruna Gama in Kalutara—were officially handed over to residents on Wednesday, marking another milestone in a bilateral housing initiative between India and Sri Lanka. The inauguration ceremonies were jointly presided over by India's High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Sri Lanka's Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe.
A combined total of 48 families received housing units during the handover events. Government ministers attending the ceremonies included Dr. Dammika Patabendi from the Environment Ministry in Kegalle and Nalinda Jayatissa, the Minister of Health and Mass Media, in Kalutara. The occasions also drew participation from district parliamentarians and officials from the National Housing Development Authority and relevant government departments.
The housing project operates under a Memorandum of Understanding established between India and Sri Lanka in October 2017, with the stated objective of constructing homes for 600 low-income families across all 25 districts of the country. Each model village comprises 24 housing units, with beneficiary selection conducted by District Housing Committees. To date, completed villages have been inaugurated in 18 districts, including Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kandy, and Colombo, among others. According to officials, the project is approximately 98.5% complete, with the remaining five villages expected to be inaugurated in the coming period.
