In 1953, the Department of National Housing was established to cater the housing needs of the middle and low income groups in Sri Lanka. It was headed by the Commissioner of National Housing who was empowered to raise loans, grant loans to building societies, co-operative, housing bodies, and individuals to acquire land and implement housing schemes. Soon after General Elections of 1977, a new con
stitution was adopted, which provided for an Executive President. The government aimed to build hundred thousand houses in a five year period. In this back drop the need for accelerated development mechanism was felt. The government following its free economic policy decided to deregulate the housing sector with new legislations and a new institution. Thus, the National Housing Development Authority Act No 17 of 1979 was passed and the new institution called National Housing Development Authority was created succeeding the Department of National Housing. The new Authority, having motivated by the success of the Hundred Thousand Houses Program, decided to implement another massive program called Million Houses and 1.5 Million Houses programs. This daring endeavour received National and International recognition. The National Housing Development Authority has given special attention as its prime objective to assist the communities which face housing problem throughout the island. Our institution has implemented various housing development programmes during the last three decades. Under these programmes, NHDA was able to provide permanent houses to a large number of people sland wide. These programmes were implemented under various development projects as per the requirements of those periods. The National Housing Development Authority strived to implement various housing development programmes targeting the poor families, who lived in estate line rooms, rural low income families and urban low income families as well. Minister of Housing and Construction, a special attention is focused on solving the acute housing problems of low income families, island wide. In this connection, initiatives have been taken to implement number of housing programmes, targeting the low income families who do not have a permanent house or permanent income source. The range of housing units of housing programmes starts with minimum facilities of a bed room, kitchen, and toilet. The necessary guidance and advice is be given to construct the basic house step by step.
