The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has announced that the complaints received regarding the final list of flat recipients in the first round of the Gedhoruveriya Housing Scheme are substantial enough to prompt revisions to the list.
The ministry opened for submitting complaints until November 10 regarding the final list of flat recipients for the 4,000 flats under development in Hulhumale' Phase II. The decision to allow the submission of complaints came in response to public concerns and objections about the marks scored by individuals. As such, the ministry stated that 7,521 complaints were submitted by the deadline.
Minister of State for National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Akram Kamaluddeen disclosed that the complaints are currently under investigation, with completion expected in the near future. He, however, did not provide details on when the revised list would be made public after the completion of the investigation. The ministry also expressed commitment to handing over the flats before the end of the current administration.
Out of the 20,697 individuals that applied for the Gedhoruveriya scheme, more than 13,000 were deemed eligible for flats. The planning ministry released the final list, establishing the allocation order for the 4,000 flats. As such, priority was given to individuals scoring above 76 marks for three-bedroom flats and above 73 marks for two-bedroom flats.
A crowd gathered at the planning ministry to protest the housing scheme after the publication of the list. They accused the ministry of awarding points without considering the living conditions of the applicants. The ministry stated that the list was formulated based on the information on the applications, adding that officials had visited the homes of some applicants.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently conducting an investigation into the matter in response to public complaints and allegations.