Govt cancels around 450 Gedhoruveriya flat allocations

Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development Dr Abdulla Muththalib said on Tuesday that around 450 applicants previously included in the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ housing scheme list for 4,000 flats have been removed following a review of eligibility.

According to the minister, the housing units allocated to those applicants have since been reassigned to other eligible recipients.

Recipients under the Gedhoruveriya scheme were initially selected during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

After President Mohamed Muizzu assumed office, the current administration initiated a review of the list and established a committee to reassess applications.

A revised list was published in February last year. However, the government later decided to proceed with allocations based on the original list issued during the previous administration.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office, Muththalib said some cases remain under review due to concerns relating to misinformation and eligibility requirements.

“There are still a few cases that have not been fully concluded. I do not recall the exact number, but I believe it is around 460. As some cases are still pending a final decision, approximately 450 applications have been cancelled so far,” the minister said.

Muththalib stated that some applicants initially allocated three-bedroom flats were later found ineligible for those units.

According to the minister, those allocations were revoked and reassigned to eligible applicants, while some recipients were moved from three-bedroom units to two-bedroom apartments.

He said the review process was conducted after authorities identified inconsistencies in the scoring system used for allocations.

According to the minister:

“Our objective was to ensure flats are awarded to those scoring above 76 who were initially left out, while providing options such as two-bedroom apartments to those with 75 points who had already signed agreements,” Muththalib said.

He added that approximately 450 applications involving signed agreements had been cancelled under the review process.

The Fahi Union, which advocates for flat recipients, has previously stated that 3,778 individuals signed agreements for flats during the previous administration.

The organisation maintains that such allocations can only be revoked through a court process.