President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (16 Jan) launched the 2026 National Housing Programme, “A Place to Belong – A Beautiful Life”, at the Weerasingham Primary School grounds in Meesalai, Chavakachcheri.
The programme will benefit 31,218 families nationwide, including 2,500 war-displaced families from the North and East. Under the first phase, Rs. 2 million will be provided per house for 800 war-displaced families in the Jaffna District, with cheques of Rs. 300,000 each presented by Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Mr. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, and Members of Parliament.
Addressing the gathering, President Dissanayake emphasised that although attempts are being made to incite racial tensions around heritage or religious sites, there will be no space for racism in the North, South, East, or any part of the country. He stressed that the housing issues of all those displaced by the war will be resolved during his term of office.
The President further noted that the Government is implementing a programme to bring broad development to the Northern Province and improve living standards. Highlighting Jaffna’s potential for tourism with its coastline and attractions, he announced plans to renovate Palaly Airport and expedite operations at the Kankesanthurai Port, with the Government of India agreeing to provide USD 60 million in assistance for the project.
President Dissanayake said that for the first time a government trusted by the people of Jaffna has been created, pledging that this trust will not be betrayed. He called on all citizens to join in building a conflict-free, harmonious country for future generations by healing broken hearts and removing suspicion and mistrust.
President’s full statement:
A large number of houses were damaged during the war. However, despite the prolonged time frame, those houses have not been fully rebuilt. I know that the people living in Jaffna District were displaced during the war. They remain displaced even after the war. It is not just for families to live for a long time without a home or a place of their own. Therefore, we will resolve the housing problems of all those displaced by the war, during our term.
I know that the people in these areas contributed to bringing this government to power with great hope and expectation. For a long time, what happened in these provinces was the emergence of views opposed to and in disagreement with, the existing government. That is not wrong. If a government nurtures racism, if a government steals people‟s property, if a government thinks only about itself and not about the general public, it is inevitable that the people and the government will grow apart. Those are governments against the people, governments that create conflict, governments built only for their own families. But today, for the first time in Sri Lanka, a government of the common people of this country has been formed.
I know that during elections, especially among the people in the North, there may have been some hesitation, uncertainty and doubt about us. Even though you voted to bring us to power, you may have done so with some suspicion. Now, a little over a year has passed since we formed the government. Do you still have doubts? Today, for the first time, a government that you in Jaffna can trust has been created in this country. Let me tell you one thing: first and foremost, we must improve the lives of people who are struggling. As a government, we will do everything possible to achieve that.
We will work to provide a home for those who do not have one. Children must receive a good education. For this we have allocated the largest share of funds in this year‟s budget. We must create proper sources of income. Agriculture, the coconut industry, fisheries and small-scale industries in particular have become the main livelihoods of people in these areas. The aim of our government is to provide the necessary support to all these sectors and raise people‟s living standards to a higher level. We are a government that works for that purpose.
There were conflicts for a long time. None of us benefited from them. What did those conflicts leave us with? Families who lost their homes, children who lost their mothers and fathers, an economy that completely collapsed, relatives and friends who were lost. People in both the North and the South became victims of this war. Behind all this destruction lay politics, the quest for power. Sinhala people were incited to gain power; Tamil people were incited to gain power. Such was the nature of that racist politics.
Even today, in different places, attempts are being made to ignite these racist tensions, sometimes around heritage sites, sometimes around religious places. I will give you one guarantee: I assure you that in our country, whether in the North, South, East or any other region and whether against Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims, we will not allow racism in any form.
We want a country where everyone lives together in brotherhood and harmony. We also want a good economy and a life filled with enjoyment and happiness. We have planned to build a large sports stadium in Jaffna, and we will complete its construction rapidly within this year. We must create opportunities for children to play and to experience joy and recreation. We also planned to build an indoor stadium in Jaffna town, but some politicians themselves went to court and filed a case. That indoor stadium is needed by the children of Jaffna, yet politicians are taking legal action. That means they are engaging in politics against the people. We plan to conclude that case as soon as possible and complete construction of that indoor stadium in a nearby location within this year.
At the same time, a significant economic leap is currently taking place in Sri Lanka centred on tourism. Jaffna District has a very beautiful coastline and many attractive sites, yet it still lacks a strong tourism industry. We plan to address the shortcomings at Palaly Airport and renovate it. We will begin work at the Kankesanthurai Port very soon, and the Government of India has agreed to provide assistance of USD 60 million for this purpose. We want to establish a highly developed tourism industry in Jaffna District and we have already prepared plans for that.
For many of the parents and brothers and sisters present here, this may be the first time in your lives that you are attending a meeting with ministers, president and ministry secretaries. We must mend these broken hearts and eliminate suspicion and mistrust. Our generation fought wars and created conflicts; we must build a country free from conflict, a country where people live in harmony, for the generation of our children. I invite all of you to join together for that purpose.” (Newswire)