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

Day 1: 22 March 2011: Inaugural Session
The inaugural session of the National Housing Symposium 2011 commenced with the lighting of the traditional oil
lamp by the Hon. Wimal Weerawansa, Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common
Amenities, followed by other distinguished participants including Mr. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Deputy Minister of
Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, Mr. Lalith Weeratunge, Secretary to the
President, Mr. Gotabhaya Jayarathne, Secretary, Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common
Amenities, Mr. Laxman Perera, UN‐HABITAT Programme Manager for Sri Lanka, Dr. Ranjith Bandara, Senior Lecturer,
Department of Economics, University of Colombo and Chairman, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Prof. Siripala Hettige,
Senior Professor and former Dean, Faculty of Arts, Sociology Department, University of Colombo and Prof. P. K. S.
Mahanama, Dean, Faculty of Architecture, of the University of Moratuwa.
In his welcome address, Mr. Gotabhaya Jayarathne, Secretary, Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing
and Common Amenities stated that every family in Sri Lanka needs a home of their own in order to lead a productive
and happy life. He mentioned that the progression from a simple, wattle and daub hut to a more permanent home is
every Sri Lankan’s dream. He emphasised that the Government’s Development Framework ‘Mahinda Chinthana Vision
for a New Sri Lanka, A Ten Year Horizon Development Framework 2006 – 2016’ envisages that each family in Sri Lanka
should own their own home. The Janasevana National Housing Programme endeavours to achieve this goal. He was
happy to note that for the first time in recent history, a National Housing Symposium has been organised to share
knowledge and experiences in the housing sector in Sri Lanka, by the Ministry with support from other government
agencies, UN‐HABITAT, academicians and housing sector practitioners. He expressed confidence that the symposium
would generate wide discussions by the participants.
Mr. Laxman Perera, UN‐HABITAT Programme Manager for Sri Lanka stated that UN‐HABITAT is happy to be associated
with the Ministry of Housing in convening this important National Symposium. Sri Lanka, as a middle income country,
had faced several recent natural disasters and had successfully overcome these challenges. Stating that housing is
vitally important to the country, Mr. Perera further elaborated that Sri Lanka had innovated many housing initiatives
and had introduced innovative schemes and strategies to the world. He mentioned that 10% development in the
housing sector would bring about 15% of economic growth to the country (in other sectors). It was important to look
at introducing new strategies, identify stakeholders and develop new partnerships in the housing sector by using this
National Symposium as a platform. Providing a brief introduction to UN‐HABITAT in Sri Lanka, he mentioned that the
agency had been in operation in Sri Lanka for the past 30 years. UN‐HABITAT, as the UN agency responsible for human
settlements, promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities, with the goal of providing adequate
shelter for all. Working closely with the government and local authorities, as well as a wide cross‐section of local
stakeholders, the agency has been actively involved in a range of national programmes and projects including
rehabilitation of tsunami affected communities and reconstruction of homes, rebuilding communities in the North and
East of Sri Lanka through assistance in the sectors of shelter, infrastructure and water and sanitation as well as
support to government on policy formulation. UN‐HABITAT has an inclusive approach to housing. He stressed that Sri
Lanka’s achievement of middle‐income country status has created many new opportunities in the housing sector.
The Secretary to the President, Mr. Lalith Weeratunge in his key note address, congratulated the Hon. Minister of
Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, and his officers for organising the National
Symposium. He mentioned that the Management Specialist Abraham Maslow – who is considered the father of
modern management psychology, had articulated the theory “Hierarchy of needs” which encompasses three basic
needs, namely food, shelter and clothing. He mentioned that it is vital to work together to achieve the objectives of
the Janasevana Programme and that it was important to consider diverse views on the implementation of the
Janasevana National Housing Programme. Mr. Weeratunge emphasised the need to look at Sri Lanka’s traditional
technologies as well as the country’s climatic/weather patterns when implementing housing projects. He mentioned
that the general public faces many difficulties in constructing a house in Sri Lanka, especially with regard to obtaining
approvals. Stating that the President is expecting 1 Mn houses to be built in the next five years – as articulated in the
Government’s Development Policy Framework: Mahinda Chinthana, he expressed confidence that the Hon. Minister
of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities will achieve this target in the next five years.
Conference Proceedings – National Housing Symposium 3