1,000 houses to be constructed in Batticaloa in 2008

The Government expects to construct 1,000 houses in the Batticaloa district under the Negenahira Navodaya housing programme in 2008, National Housing Development Authority, General Manager Wasantha Wijeratne said.

This programme will be implemented with Government funds and financial assistance from International Non-governmental Organisations. The programme's main objective is to provide housing facilities for the community whose houses were destroyed due to the conflict and the tsunami, he said after commencing the construction work of the new office building at Kalladi, Batticaloa.

The NHDA new district office building - Batticaloa will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 10 million and financial assistance for this construction will be given by German Technical Co-operation (GTZ).

Construction work of this building will be completed within four months and it is expected to inaugurate the new building with the commemoration of the World Habitat Day 2008 which will be held on October 06.

Wijeratne said: "The Government has given priority for development activities in the Eastern Province under the Nagenahira Navodaya programme. The housing development programme of the Eastern Province is one of the main activities of the Negenahira Navodaya development programme.

Within 2008, 3,000 houses are be constructed in the entire Eastern Province and 1,000 houses will be constructed in the Batticaloa district. The housing development programme in the Eastern Province was implemented by the Government contributions, NGOOs and other organisations."

NHDA Deputy General Manager L.S. Palansuriya and Batticaloa District Manager K. Jeganathan also spoke. NHDA Assistant General Manager Dammika Gunawardena, Ampara District Manager J.N. Jeyachandran, Kalmunai Senior Manager N. Sivapathasundaram and officials of the Batticaloa District Office and District Secretariat participated.