Three more houses have been sold by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) under the programme of selling houses for dollars to Sri Lankans abroad.

Urban Development and Housing Minister  Prasanna Ranatunga said that two Sri Lankans from Dubai and one from the United States of America (USA) had paid US$ 143,700 and bought these three houses.

Since they had paid the specified dollar value at once, they had been given a discount of 10% as well. Accordingly, the value of these three houses is Rs.57 million. Minister Ranatunga said Sri Lankans abroad have applied to purchase another ten houses, as of now. Those Sri Lankans who have applied to purchase these houses in dollars are from USA, Canada, Australia, Dubai, France, Britain and Bangladesh.

The houses that have been sold are two three-bedroomed houses and one two-bedroomed house from the Viyathpura Housing Complex in Pannipitiya, Green Arcade Apartments in Kottawa and Crescendo Residencies in Malabe.

This was revealed during a discussion held at the UDA at Sethsiripaya, Battaramulla on October 31 in connection with the progress of the sale of houses belonging to the UDA for dollars.

It was in September that the Minister took steps to provide facilities required for buying middle-income houses for dollars, constructed by the UDA for Sri Lankans and workers abroad. A Sri Lankan living in Dubai purchased the first house which was sold under this programme on September 27 and it was a house at the Viyathpura Housing Complex. Minister Ranatunga said that when Sri Lankans abroad purchase houses for dollars, if the total amount is paid at once, a discount of 10% is granted and if payments are being made in installments the discount will be 5%.

The Minister said further that prior to the end of this year it is expected to achieve an income of five hundred thousand dollars by sale of these houses. More details and required applications can be obtained by accessing the official website of the UDA, www.uda.gov.lk.