After nearly nine years of displacement following the 2017 landslide disaster, 16 families from the red‑notice danger zone at Wogan Estate, Dodangoda, Kalutara, will finally receive permanent housing. 

According to the Ministry of Health, the foundation‑laying ceremony for the new homes was held on Wednesday (29) under the patronage of Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.

The Rs. 57.6 million housing project, implemented under the Ministry of Plantation Community Infrastructure, will provide complete houses with two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. 

Construction is scheduled to be completed by December this year, with all 16 houses handed over to beneficiary families. Alongside housing, road systems, electricity, and drinking water facilities will be developed to ensure a safe and sustainable living environment.

Minister Jayatissa emphasized that a house is not merely a building but the foundation of a family’s future, bringing stability, security, and confidence. 

He noted that in the past year alone, financial assistance of Rs. 1 million each was given to low‑income families in Kalutara District to complete 136 houses, while funding is available this year for more than 200 new houses. 

In addition, programmes are underway to build 175 houses across several Divisional Secretariat divisions to meet housing needs in estate areas.

Beyond housing, the Minister said families will receive broader support through concessionary loans, financial assistance, and facilities for self‑employment and small businesses, integrating housing development with wider social empowerment. 

He stressed that beneficiary selection will be free from political favoritism or partiality, with the government committed to transparency and fairness. (Newswire)

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The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has clarified that individuals selling their residential property or personal vehicles can now do so without paying tax, provided certain conditions are met.

An official from the IRD said that for residential property, sellers are exempt if they have held legal ownership for at least three years prior to the sale and have resided at the location for over two years during that period. If these criteria are satisfied, the full amount from the sale is tax‑free. 

He further said that transfers of property to family members or children are also exempt, with tax applying only when sold to third parties.

On vehicles, the IRD official said the previous taxation system has been removed under the amended act. 

He explained that from April 1, 2024, the sale of personal vehicles is entirely tax‑free, regardless of the vehicle’s age, condition, or model. 

The exemption applies solely to personal vehicles, with the entire profit from the sale free of tax, the IRD official added. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to raise the financial assistance provided to families relocated from high‑risk landslide zones under the resettlement program.

According to the government, currently, each beneficiary family receives up to Rs. 1.6 million to construct a new house. With the latest decision, this amount will be increased to Rs. 2.5 million per house.

The proposal was presented by the President in his capacity as Minister of Defence, highlighting the need to strengthen support for families compelled to leave their homes due to severe landslide threats.

The resettlement programme operates on the basis that beneficiaries themselves undertake the construction of their houses, with government funding provided to ease the transition. 

This enhanced grant is expected to accelerate the rebuilding process and provide greater security for affected communities. (Newswire)

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The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA)  says, according to preliminary assessments, 1,289 houses have been completely destroyed in Sri Lanka due to Cyclone Ditwah.

Officials from the authority said that approximately 44,500 houses have sustained partial damage due to landslides and related impacts. 

The information was disclosed during a meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and officials of the Ministry of Finance and NHDA at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (04). 

During the meeting, the President instructed the Ministry of Finance and NHDA to ensure that the identification of fully and partially damaged houses affected by adverse weather conditions is carried out according to a proper and transparent methodology.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake further directed them to establish a special mechanism to gather accurate data efficiently, which is essential for the compensation process. 

The discussion was convened to review the damage caused to houses by Cyclone Ditwah and to assess the progress of the compensation process. 

Highlighting the importance of providing long-term, stable solutions to people living in high-risk and disaster-prone areas so that they are not repeatedly affected by such calamities, the President instructed officials to prioritize the collection of reliable data to support these efforts. (Newswire)

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