Spanish Red Cross funds Rs. 70 million:

Homes for tsunami affected in Lunawa

Forty eight families in Lunawa, Moratuwa who lost their homes during the 2004 tsunami and up to now living in temporary shelters, have moved into new permanent houses built by the Red Cross.

Apartments in six blocks comprising of common amenities such as water supply, electricity and roads is a project initiated by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and funded by the Spanish Red Cross with an investment of Rs. 70 million.

The scheme was opened by Land and Land Development Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga.

The Minister said 3400 houses in the Moratuwa division were destroyed by the tsunami and the Government faced several challenges in finding land to resettle affected families.

He stated that support of several organizations including Red Cross was a great strength to them in overcoming those problems. The Minister commended the massive Red Cross tsunami recovery intervention program launched throughout the country. "Some organizations rushed to Sri Lanka immediately after the tsunami. Their representatives stayed in five star hotels and left the country. But several organizations including the Red Cross stood by their commitment and worked for the benefit of affected people. I pay my gratitude to Sri Lanka Red Cross Society the Spanish Red Cross for the completion of this big project," the Minister said.

Country Coordinator of Spanish Red Cross Ines Dalmau said all families of Lunawa site as well as vulnerable families of host communities were benefiting from the livelihood and social development program.

"The program supports the development of business plans and provide entrepreneurship development training. Later feasible business programmes are funded through cash grants," she said.