Diri Sevana project launch

THE 'Diri Sevana' Housing Programme implemented under the 'Jana Sevana' housing project of the Mahinda Chinthana concept will be launched in 12 administrative districts considering the poverty condition.

The districts are: Moneragala, Badulla, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Hambantota, Matale, Anuradhapura, Galle, Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa, Vavuniya and Ampara.

This programme will be implemented under the 90-day crash programme on housing sector. On the first phase of this programme, 20 housing units will be constructed in a cluster basis in each of these districts.

Twenty poverty stricken families will construct their houses in each of these districts and the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) will provide Rs. 50,000 and roofing sheets for each of these houses along with technical assistance and participation of householder families.

Under the guidance of Minister of Housing and Construction Ferial Ashraff, the Ministry of Housing and Construction will co-ordinate this programme.

Two hundred and fifty housing units will be constructed in the 12 districts under this programme and the construction of these houses will commence on January 15.

The NHDA said they are planning to complete construction of these houses by March 10 and the ownership of these houses will be handed over to householders on March 18.

Based on the experiences of the above programme, the NHDA expects to implement the 'Diri Sevana' programme in all districts from the second week of February.