Conference Proceedings : “JANASEVANA” National ... - UN HABITAT

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
Key recommendations arising from the National Housing symposium:
1. Housing policy and strategy
• Policy initiatives ‐ The preparation of a National Housing Policy was identified by the symposium as an urgent
need for Sri Lanka and it was emphasized to expedite the preparation of the National Housing Policy which is
currently at the drafting stage. It was also recommended to adopt a wider stakeholder consultative process
prior to the finalization of the National Policy.
• Strategy ‐ The urban and rural housing sectors have different issues and challenges. Most of the urban
housing issues are centred on under‐served settlements. In the rural housing sector, issues are largely
centred on the cost of construction and affordability. Therefore, the symposium recommended the
development of a road map for the housing sector with all relevant partners, with the Ministry taking the
lead role.
• Partnerships – The private sector and the Micro finance sector play a vital role in the housing market. It is
important to create a synergy between all partners and actions. In this context, the Ministry of Housing needs
to play a coordinating and enabling role, to bring all partners together. UN‐HABITAT could provide
consultative support in the development of the National Policy.
2. Using new technology in housing construction
• Disaster resistant housing: Disaster resistant housing has become an important element in housing
construction today. The types of natural disasters and their characteristics should be identified and
appropriate technologies should be used in housing/settlement construction.
• Innovative technology: It was recommended that all agencies engaged in housing construction using
new/innovative technologies should be brought together to share knowledge in one platform. Also,
technology that is appropriate for rural housing should be given adequate prominence.
• Cost effective technology: It was recommended that a pilot project be developed to build houses using
affordable housing technologies with the combined technologies of institutes, e.g. CHBP, University of
Moratuwa.
3. Recommendations on Housing Finance
• Innovative housing finance products: Instead of the rigid and inflexible housing finance/loan schemes that
are currently offered by the banks, it was recommended that a people‐friendly method of housing finance be
introduced through the intervention of the Ministry.
• Fund generation: Finance for pro‐poor housing should be generated through non‐traditional approaches and
by exploring new windows such as cess funds and tax rebates.
• Coordination: It is important to create a conducive and vibrant housing finance market in order to create
easy access to housing credit for people. To achieve this task, a strong coordination mechanism including the
participation of the Central Bank and Finance Ministry should be established.
• National Steering Committee on Housing Finance: It was proposed to establish a National Steering
Committee on Housing Finance in collaboration with all housing finance institutes.
4. The Need for Social Housing Programmes and Recommendations for Future Development
Conference Proceedings – National Housing Symposium 30