President opens Singapore Maithri Gama

BY SARATH Malalasekera in Hambantota

THE Singapore Red Cross Society with the Singapore Buddhist Research Society selected the Hambantota District to build houses for the tsunami affected people, said Singapore Buddhist Research Society (SBRS) President Wong Weng Fai.

"We were proud to select Hambantota District to assist people who were affected by the tsunami, because Hambantota is the native place of the newly elected Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse," he said.

SBRS President Fai, also the Associate Professor, National University of Singapore, was speaking to the media after the distribution of fifty houses at the "Singapore Maithri Gama" in the Hambantota District to the tsunami affected people in the Hambantota area by President Mahinda Rajapakse recently.

The Hambantota housing project was originated by the Singapore Red Cross Society and assisted by Singapore Buddhist Research Society Advisor Ven. Bellanwila Dhammarathana Nayake Thera.

The visiting Singapore delegates were led by Chief Co-ordinator of the project David EE, Prof. Wong Weng Fai, President Singapore Buddhist Research Society and Ms. Susan Chong, Chief Trustee of the Singapore Buddhist Research Society.

He emphasised that the Singapore Buddhist Research Society will not only assist to build houses for the tsunami affected but also build a school, a community centre and a medical centre for their benefit.

Several Singapore made doors had been imported for the use of newly build houses in the "Singapore Maithri Gama."

"We will distribute school uniforms and toys to the needy people in the Hambantota District," he said.

Each house consist of two bedrooms, a dining room, a kitchen and an attached bathroom on a 20-perch block of land costing Rs. 500,000. Donors are planning to complete the project with 150 houses to be handed over to the tsunami affected people in the Hambantota District.

Ven. Dhammarathana Nayake Thera said that the entire project with 150 houses will be completed soon.