Despite the controversy regarding the 65,000 houses programme in the north, Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs, D.M. Swaminathan, said that there was a huge demand for the houses.

A large number of applications have been handed over by the people who are interested in applying for the houses based on the two model houses constructed in Kopay divisional secretariat division and Thellipillai divisional secretariat division.

According to the district secretary of the Jaffna District, over 32,000 applicants have submitted their applications for the houses after witnessing the pilot model houses. Similarly in Vavuniya, over 8,500 applications have been submitted through the divisional secretaries to the district secretaries.

Swaminathan stated that this demonstrates the acceptance of the pilot model houses and the need to accelerate the 65,000 housing programme which is implemented under the humanitarian assistance provided for the families in conflicted affected areas.