CTC completes tsunami houses in Hikkaduwa

CTC employees, along with the extended CTC family including farmers, barn owners and distributors, worked with the affected, distributing rations, medical supplies, setting up camps and all other relief efforts wherever possible after the tsunami.

The Tsunami Relief Housing Fund which now stands at Rs. 140 million, thanks to the support and generosity of BAT plc, employees from Group companies and CTC employees, has enabled them to build houses for the displaced in the Western and Eastern coastal belt.

Almost a year after the tragedy, 80 houses in Hikkaduwa will be given over to the affected. Another 100 houses are being built in the eastern coast, and will be ready for occupation during the first quarter of 2006.

Project Manager for tsunami housing reconstruction Suresh Tissaaratchy, said "the recipients of these houses are people from all walks of life and have been identified by the State on pre-determined criteria."

"No matter who they were the tsunami devastated their lives and took away all that they had. Each house built is complete with electricity and water supply."

The employees of CTC are currently in the process of organising a Shramadana Campaign at these sites to ensure that the gardens are prepared at each of these houses before they are occupied. All employees in their own way want to ensure that the affected be re-settled in the best possible way, to minimise the aftershock of the devastation.