President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handed over newly constructed homes to 50 families from the Malayagam community who lost their residences in a 2023 landslide and have been living in inadequate conditions for over three years.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday formally transferred the Navodayapuram Housing Project to 50 families from Poonagala and Kabaragala who were displaced by a landslide in 2023. The families have endured substandard living arrangements since the disaster nearly three and a half years ago. The project was completed with significant involvement from the Sri Lanka Army Corps of Engineers and represents an attempt to improve conditions for the Malayagam community.

At the handover ceremony, the President underscored that members of the Malayagam community are entitled to the same rights and dignity as all other Sri Lankan citizens. He contended that allowing future generations to inherit the same difficulties experienced historically would be unjust, and stated his Government is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all citizens contributing to national development. The President also referenced a recent Cabinet decision aimed at facilitating the return of Sri Lankans who left the country during the war and are currently residing in India.

Looking forward, the Government has prioritized housing construction in its forthcoming budget and plans to include protections for the Malayagam community in future agreements with plantation companies. President Dissanayake emphasized environmental preservation, particularly regarding the Central Highlands, which he described as the nation's core. He announced that legislation establishing a Central Highlands Protection Authority with broad regulatory powers will be presented to Parliament by year-end or early 2027, consolidating protection responsibilities across multiple institutions. The President called on citizens to participate in efforts to restore and preserve the highlands for future generations.