Success of development projects depends on peace - Housing Minister

"WE should extend our whole-hearted support to the peace effort individually. Most of us expect others to bring peace to us. It is our responsibility to extend our support to the Government and its peace effort.

What ever development projects implemented it will not be successful without peace in the country", said Minister of Housing and Construction Ferial Ashraff at the launching ceremony of the Guidelines for Housing Development in Coastal Sri Lanka which was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall recently.

This publication came about under the guidance of the Ministry of Housing and Construction, National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) with the support of the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ).

The prime objective of this guideline is to cater to the needs of all categories of actors involved in the post tsunami re-housing endeavours within the coastal belt.

This guideline will cover the technical requirements relating to several natural disasters such as tidal waves, earthquakes, floods and high winds.

Minister Ashraff said "Due to tsunami in December 26, 2004, the houses along the coastal belt were damaged in different ways. Some houses were fully damaged while others were partly damaged. At that time when the tsunami devastated our country, we had a limited knowledge and understanding about this happening.

The NHDA has presented the 1st guideline to two months ago and we instructed the NHDA to present the document to the professional community of the country and other stakeholders involved in the housing sector for a review with the aim of arriving at a widely accepted set of guidelines for the sector.

As a result today we are able to publish this guideline with the support of other institutions and individuals those who are engaged in this efforts."

Wolfgang Erdmannsdoerfer, Deputy head of Mission, German Embassy said "The German Government has extended its assistance to Sri Lanka for a long time.

After the tsunami, the Federal Republic of Germany has provided assistance through the GTZ for the reconstruction work of devastated areas. Peace in Sri Lanka is very essential for the success of any of these programmes.

Miss Vipula Indivari Sudasinghe of Kegalle Girls School, Kegalle who made the cover illustration of this guideline received a special award from Minister Ferial Ashraff.

Minister Ashraff has also inaugurated an exhibition held under the theme of House Development in Coastal Sri Lanka.