ECONOMYNEXT – More than 17,600 houses are either damaged or have become unsuitable for living anymore due to possible risks of landslides, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told the Parliament.
He revealed the number when he addressed the parliament before the voting for the Rs. 500 billion supplementary budget to rebuild the disaster hit area in the island nation.
He said the assessment has shown 6,228 houses have been fully damaged and 4,543 houses have been partially damaged while National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has advised not to use them as habitats.
Apart from that, the President said, the NBRO has identified 6,877 houses are unsuitable for living though they are not damaged.
“Totally, 17,648 houses have been identified as not usable for living. These families will be given an allowance of 50,000 rupees per month for three months from January. Then they will be given 25,000 rupees for housing rental even if they are living in a relative’s house,” President Dissanayake said.
The government had allocated 100 billion rupees out of the 500 billion supplementary budgets.
Sri Lanka’s recent devastation has caused widespread damage to housing, with thousands of homes partially or completely destroyed by floods, landslides, and strong winds, leaving entire communities displaced.
Low-lying areas and hillside settlements were particularly vulnerable, as poorly constructed houses collapsed or were buried under mud and debris.
Many families lost not only their shelters but also household belongings, documents, and basic utilities, forcing them into temporary camps, schools, and religious buildings.
The scale of housing damage has intensified humanitarian needs and placed added pressure on the government to provide emergency shelter, compensation, and long-term resettlement solutions, especially for low-income and disaster-prone communities. (Colombo/December 19/2025)