Swiss agency commended for efficient tsunami housing projects

AID: Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera yesterday lauded the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for efficiently carrying out the housing reconstruction programmes for tsunami affected people in Trincomalee and Matara Districts.

Dr. Jayasundera said the SDC's efforts in the two districts are a role model for any organisation engaged in community development in poverty stricken areas.

"It is a model that I take seriously for its efficiency and proper organisation. It hardly leave any room for misappropriation," he said.

Switzerland provided 15.5 million US dollars to support the house owner driven reconstruction to build 8500 houses in the two districts.

Ambassador of Switzerland, Bernadino Regazzoni said 7028 houses have already been constructed. Out of the total, 4443 houses have been built in the Matara district and 2585 in Trincomalee.

These houses have been built under the first phase of Cash for Repair and Reconstruction programme.

The SDC plans to build another 4000 houses under the second phase of the programme.

The SDC also supports a school reconstruction programme in Matara and Jaffna districts. Switzerland will rehabilitate eight schools in Matara at a cost of US dollars 8.6 million.

SDC is the agency within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland dealing with humanitarian and development programmes. (CK)