Minister inspects tsunami housing in Ampara

Mohammed Naalir

AMPARA: Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff undertook an inspection to assess the progress of tsunami housing construction in the Ampara district.

The tsunami housing construction in the district has been entrusted with the Minister by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Minister inspected the completed houses and the houses under construction. Work on 3000 housing units has been completed while the construction on 2000 housing units is under way.

She inspected the Islamabadh tsunami housing scheme Kalmunai funded by the Hemas Organisation and Maruthamunai housing scheme funded by the Islamic Relief Fund and the Periya Neelawanai housing project. These three housing schemes comprise 200, 100 and 600 houses respectively.

A Peace village will be constructed at Attappallam, Ninthavur for the tsunami displaced with the financial assistance from Australia.

Minister Ashraff said the housing construction in the Kalmunai Urban area was delayed due to the land shortage. The Kalmunai Municipal Council area is densely populated and this has attributed to land shortage.

Several Ministries, Government Organisations and NGOs implemented housing programmes in the area where there was a need for 1500 housing units after the tsunami. Still several housing programmes are to be implemented in these areas.

She said the people who lived in traditional homes will receive an opportunity to live in well-planned housing complexes.

National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) Chairman Mohammed Rafeek and several others accompanied the Minister.