Housing Minister Denies Political Motives Behind Gedhoruveriyaa Agreement Delays

The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, has dismissed claims that political motivations are behind the delays in signing agreements for certain recipients of the Gedhoruveriyaa housing scheme. Addressing the concerns, the Minister clarified that the delays were a necessary measure to protect the rights of eligible citizens. The decision followed the discovery of irregularities in the recipient list after it had been submitted for processing. Dr. Muththalib emphasized that the government has not created a new list of 4,000 recipients; instead, allocations are proceeding based on the final list issued on November 15, 2023, as recommended by the Attorney General. According to the Minister, the original allocation criteria mandated that applicants scoring 76 points or above receive flats automatically, while those with 75 points were to be entered into a lottery. However, he revealed that under the previous administration, 325 individuals who scored 76 points were excluded, while 315 individuals with 75 points were granted flats. When asked why the government is not revising the list to correct these errors, Dr. Muththalib explained that drafting a completely new list would cause significant delays for those waiting to move into completed housing units. He stated that the government will instead take targeted action against individuals proven to be ineligible, while ensuring others still receive their homes. Adding further context to the administrative challenges, the Minister noted that a one-page agreement had been signed just two days before the change of government. At that time, the construction of the housing flats was only 30 percent complete, complicating the handover process. The Gedhoruveriyaa scheme remains a critical component of the government's effort to alleviate the housing crisis in the capital, and the Ministry maintains that transparency and legality are the primary drivers of the current processing timeline.