President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared that by 2016 shanties would be a mere thing of the past, as all Sri Lankans would own their own homes.

The President made this statement at a ceremony at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium to mark World Habitat Day, which falls on Monday. The global theme for World Habitat Day 2014 is Voices from Slums.

The President noted that the government has realised that every citizen in the country should own a home, and that they have begun carrying out large scale projects to make this a reality.

The President announced that the government will work towards bettering the lives of children, and place focus on safeguarding them from vices such as drugs and alcohol.