Tsunami-hit elders to get houses

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: HelpAge-Sri Lanka will provide houses to the elders, who have lost their houses due to the tsunami by providing them with fully equipped alternative houses. Initially a project to build 250 houses has been launched in the Eastern Province and the Southern Province.

HelpAge-Sri Lanka is an NGO, affiliated to HelpAge International which provides livelihood assistance to vulnerable elders.

According to HelpAge sources, 100 houses has been allocated to the Southern Province and 150 has been allocated to the East on the basis of number of affected people, relative poverty and lack of development.

"Together with housing, we will look at providing livelihood assistance and skills development to sustain a minimum income for the home owners", a HelpAge official said.

The housing projects are constructed as a cluster of 25 houses. So all clusters consisting of 25 houses, would include a community centre with an Older People Association, which would provide the vulnerable elders to experience communal living in an environment that is age- friendly and caring to their exclusive needs.

The project is to be implemented in Akkaraipattu in Ampara District and Kaluwanchikudi in Batticaloa District and in the South Hikkaduwa in Galle District and Tangalle in Hambantota District have been chosen. According to sources further plots are to be assessed and already the negotiations are going on.

Work has already been commenced and is expected to be completed during the next few months.