RADA concerned over tsunami housing projects undertaken by INGOs

Vindhya HEWAVITHARANA

COLOMBO: The Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) has raised concerns over the slow progress of tsunami housing construction projects undertaken by INGOs.

A RADA spokesman pointed out that the Agency was concerned about the failure of the pledges made and not meeting the deliverables stipulated in the MoUs.

RADA sources told the 'Daily News' that the challenge they faced was to ensure that all INGOs keep to their promises.

The sources also pointed out that their concern was converting the donor driven housing projects in to owner driven housing programmes.

Sources said that despite it being one year and eight months since the tsunami hit Sri Lanka the problems related to housing of the affected families still remain.

RADA is of the view that although the Government sector had stepped in towards constructing houses, there was little progress shown where the donors were concerned.

Considering the prevailing condition, RADA has initiated several steps to ensure that pledges made through MoUs are honoured and all tsunami victims are provided with a house in keeping with the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.