‘I don’t want to win elections by setting up mobile taverns’- Premadasa

Housing and Construction Minister, Sajith Premadasa said that after the yahapalana government was elected to power, 490 ‘uda gammana’ (model villages) were established in the country.

Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating ‘Sithujayagama’ at Meegahajadura in Suriyawewa, he said that construction work on another 500 such model villages will begin before the end of the year, with the long-term objective of achieving a target 2,000 by 2020.

“Many stalwarts of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa are now supporting me”, he noted. “They have teamed up with me

in my political journey in appreciation of the progress achieved in providing housing plus loan facilities to the lower income group”.

The Minister recalled that during the former regime, some politicians crossed over to other political parties after obtaining big money. “But, those who joined me, did so with good intentions and confidence in the work I do, and not for financial benefit”.

The ‘Semata Sevana’ housing program is meant exclusively for people in the lower income group. There is no political bias in this initiative, which also focuses on generating self-employment to make the poor self-reliant, without being a burden on others.

“I don’t want to win elections by setting up mobile taverns to serve liquor to voters”, Premadasa stressed. “My aim is to give them a house they can call their own”.