Climate-resilient housing: From rebuilding to belonging View(s):By Sheri Pitigala, Dipak Dasgupta and Nihal PitigalaSri Lanka’s climate crisis is no longer a distant or abstract concern; it is a present economic and social reality. A better path: Building a pro-poor market for climate-resilient housingThe alternative is both practical and compelling: to develop a functional, pro-poor housing market for low-cost, climate-resilient homes, anchored in strong community participation and supported by fit-for-purpose public policy. The housing market does not fully value the wider benefits of climate-resilient construction, so too little of it is built. Climate-resilient housing generates substantial positive externalities—lower disaster recovery costs, improved health, higher productivity, and reduced emissions—that are not fully reflected in private investment decisions. Instead, investing in community-driven, market-enabled solutions for climate-resilient housing protects livelihoods, reduces fiscal risk, and restores dignity and agency to affected households.

Source: Sunday Times February 07, 2026 20:10 UTC