Samurdhi Security Funds rebuilding lives

B. W. Eheliyagoda Kegalle special correspondent

In the Ruwanwella Electorate, Kegalle district, about twenty families in the Lewangama area were subjected to an earthslips in the recent period of floods and intermittent heavy showers.

All these families faced almost complete destruction of their dwellings, creating immense difficulties for the occupants. Majority of these people were Samurdhi recipients.

Each of these families were provided a donation of Rs. 50,000 for them to be able to get their small dwellings repaired or freshly constructed with each others help and co-operation. These lands were provided by the land reforms commission and funds were provided by the Samurdhi Security Fund.

The laying of the foundation stone in respect of the construction of these houses was recently initiated by Kegalle District Parliamentarian Minister of Labour Athauda Seneviratne and Sabaragamuwa PC member Dr. Parakrama Athauda. The "Samurdhi Security" fund has allocated a sum of Rs. 50,000 each member.

Minister Seneviratne speaking at this occasion said that the immense sum of funds the present Government is spending to keep the wolf driven away from the door-steps of the poorest of the poor. The Government is annually spending a sum of Rs. 8 billion. This colossal amount had been spent by the Government for the last eleven years or so but yet there are no signs to observe that such poverty has reduced.

Under this Samurdhi scheme, some of the Samurdhi recipients have become very well to do, and have acquired wealth, but still, they are continuing to obtain Samurdhi allowances.

We are presenting only Rs. 50,000 to get a house constructed in a small way with the unity and co-operation of all those eighteen families who lost their houses in the earthslip. If those families unite with good intention, much hope and with each others help and courageous assistance the houses could be built in no time, the Minister added.