Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya announced in Parliament today that accommodation facilities will be provided for 16,000 university students under a new hostel construction programme, while a comprehensive policy on student housing is also being formulated.
The Prime Minister said the University Grants Commission (UGC) allocated Rs. 376 million in 2025 and Rs. 453 million in 2026 for hostel renovations.
In addition, the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education allocated Rs. 400 million in 2026 for renovations and Rs. 1,500 million for new hostel construction. All these allocations are domestic, with no borrowing involved.
Foreign loan financing has also been earmarked. Under the Wayamba Urban Development Project, Rs. 321 million has been allocated in 2026 for hostels funded through the Saudi Development Loan, while Rs. 331 million has been allocated for a hostel at the Faculty of Medicine, Sabaragamuwa University.
A further Rs. 10.46 million has been allocated for hostel renovations under the Wayamba project. In total, Rs. 466 million was allocated in 2025 and Rs. 662.46 million in 2026.
A total of 55 new hostels are scheduled to be constructed during 2025, 2026, and beyond, with priority given to universities in non‑urban areas such as Vavuniya, Jaffna – Kilinochchi Campus, South Eastern University, Uva Wellassa University, and Sabaragamuwa University, where accommodation shortages are most acute.
The Prime Minister said the UGC is drafting a national policy on student accommodation, which will also cover private hostels. Until now, there have been no guidelines on charges or minimum standards for private student housing.
The new policy will introduce standards for sanitation, safety, accessibility, affordability, and student welfare, with priority for students with disabilities. It will also establish a committee to oversee private hostels, conduct inspections, and take action against non‑compliant facilities.
PM Amarasuriya noted that the policy aims to ensure fair, transparent, safe, affordable, accessible, and inclusive accommodation. She added that discussions are underway on public‑private partnerships, where the Government could provide land for additional hostel construction.
The Prime Minister further stated that steps are also being taken to review hostel facilities and student welfare activities at vocational training centres, the Ocean University of Sri Lanka, and the University of Vocational Technology. (Newswire)