Sabaragamuwa PC led tsunami rescue operation

Raja Waidyasekera Tissamaharama special corr.

The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council rendered a yeoman service just after the Tsunami to the Tsunami stricken Hambantota district.

It was the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council that set up the first housing scheme at Siribopura, Hambantota for the tsunami stricken people.

Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Chief Minister Maheepala Herath was instrumental in this meritorious deed.

The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council provided various relief measures to the tsunami affected people in the form of dry rations, clothes, food, health and sanitary.

The housing scheme set up at Siribopura, Hambantota consists of 104 houses.

Thirty three GN divisions were affected as a result of the tsunami in Hambantota district.

Thirteen thousand eight hundred and five families in the district were affected, while 1,398 people were swept away by the tsunami.

The number of total damaged houses were 1,076, while 276 houses were partially damaged. The destruction caused to the house and property was valued at 18,000,900,000. The requirement housing was 5,080.

The foundation stones for the tsunami housing scheme was laid and the scheme was completed at a cost of Rs. 36,400,000.00.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga laid the foundation stones for the housing scheme at the request of then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa accompanied by the Chief Minister Sabaragamuwa Province Maheepala Herath Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa and Mahinda Amaraweera.

The Chief Minister told the Daily News that following institutions supported the housing scheme were American Aid fund, Rotary Club, Sambodhi Foundation, Deraniyagala Small Hydropower Construction Company and Lions Club Ruwanwella.