The National Celebration of World Habitat Day was held (October 5th ) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The National Celebration of World Habitat Day was held (October 5th ) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The National Celebration of World Habitat Day was held  (October 5th ) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

In line with the United Nations' World Habitat Day, the national celebration in Sri Lanka was held under the theme "A Place to Call One’s Own – A Beautiful Life". Coinciding with this, Habitat Week was declared and various related programs were implemented from October 1st to 5th.

As part of a program implemented by the National Housing Development Authority to provide homes for nearly 4,000 low-income families who lack the financial means to build a house, 1,000 newly completed houses across the country were handed over to the public ownership via digital technology, under the auspices of the President.

Additionally, under a program to issue long-delayed deeds to eligible recipients, housing deeds were symbolically handed over to 357 beneficiaries. Furthermore, under a financial aid program to support 1,000 low-income families unable to build homes, 157 beneficiaries were symbolically awarded checks of one million rupees each.

In celebration of World Habitat Day, the President also took part in an award ceremony for the winners of an island-wide art competition.

He also visited an art exhibition and housing design display, which were organized to promote the artistic talents of school children and highlight innovative housing concepts.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres' official message for World Habitat Day was presented at the event by Ms. Harshini Halangoda, the Sri Lanka Program Manager of the UN-Habitat program.

Several dignitaries attended the event, including:

Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing: Anura Karunathilaka

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development: Anil Jayantha Fernando

Deputy Minister of Housing: T.B. Sarath

Western Province Governor: Yusuf Haniff

First Secretary (Political) of the Indian High Commission: Navya Singla and other representatives from the Indian High Commission

Senior Additional Secretary to the President: G.M.R.D. Apponsu

Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing: Ranjith Ariyaratne

Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment: Sampath Mantrinayake

Also present were the Chairman, General Manager, and senior officials of the National Housing Development Authority.