by Mohamed Niyas, Hambantota special correspondent

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for the Ratnapura district tsunami Housing Scheme, at Mayurapura, Hambantota on Friday emphasised that the Government is committed to serve all the communities equally irrespective of any other barriers whether they lived in the Northern, Eastern or in the Southern parts of the island. Houses would be provided for every family where houses were destroyed due to tsunami tidal wave.

The Ratnapura district tsunami housing scheme is a goodwill gesture from the people of Ratnapura district for the tsunami victims in Hambantota. The housing scheme comprises 75 houses each worth rupees four hundred thousand.

Speaking about the 100 metre buffer zone in the coastal area, Premier Rajapakse reiterated that it was a collective decision made after consulting all political parties in the country and the experts in the field of oceanic science. This should not become an issue to gain political mileage.

Prime Minister said thousands lost their lives and one hundred thousand houses have been destroyed due to deadly tidal waves. The disaster claimed the lives of people from all communities and people from all walks of life came to rescue the affected people forgetting the differences.

He said the 100 metre zone along the coastal line was imposed with the sole intention of protecting the people from another natural disaster.

The Prime Minister said the high commissioner for India has come here on a fact finding mission to assist to upgrade the Hambantota base hospital, it is a good sign for the development of the town. Hambantota will become a modern town and the economic condition of the people will be enhanced.

He said we must be thankful to the people of Ratnapura for assisting us to build a housing scheme for the tsunami affected people.

Minister of Justice and Judicial Reforms W. D. J. Seneviratne said, "the people of Ratnapura were quick to response to the tsunami affected people in the Hambantota district.

We were able to provide short term assistance for the affected people in numerous ways. Today we have kept our promises to build permanent houses for the people whose houses were destroyed by the tsunami".

Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries Chamal Rajapakse and several others also spoke.