Tsunami beneficiaries in Jaffna get 130 houses

A delegation comprising Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera, Bishop of Galle, Rev. Fr. Damian Fernando, National Director Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC, Rev. Fr. George Sigamoney, Director Caritas Kandy SETIK and Rev. Fr. Damian Arsakularatne, Director Caritas SED Galle visited Jaffna recently.

While in Jaffna the delegation attended the handing over ceremony of 130 houses for the Tsunami affected families at Vadamaarachchi in the Point Pedro DS Division which took place on March 4. The chief guest at the ceremony was His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera, Chairman, of the Catholic National Commission for Justice, Peace and Human Development and Bishop of Galle.

This event was headed by Rev. Fr. C.G. Jeyakumar, Director Caritas Jaffna-HUDEC.

Speaking on the occasion His Lordship said that all the good work in the Tsunami Rehabilitation Program has not been fully utilised due to the war situation and we have requested the international funding agencies to continue their support in order to complete these activities. His Lordship expressed that Caritas Sri Lanka has implemented many development projects and the development work in the Jaffna Diocese will continue.

Praising the work done by Caritas Jaffna-HUDEC, His Lordship said, "We have provided our services to the Tsunami victims and our next action is to serve the war affected people in Jaffna and in the Vanni." His Lordship also quipped that he had come to extend solidarity from Dondra Head to Point Pedro.

Caritas Sri Lanka, National Director Rev. Fr. Damian Fernando in his speech mentioned that Caritas has built nearly 10,000 permanent houses in the North, South, East and West of the country.

Today the recipients of new houses in Point Pedro are those affected by both the Tsunami and the civil war. We are thankful to our international funding partners for supporting us in these projects.

GA Jaffna K. Ganesh stated in his speech that these people have lived a better standard of life in the past, even though they were victims of the Tsunami and the war, these new houses gave them a new lease of life. He also mentioned that the livelihood activities of these people had to be strengthened.

Among the other distinguished guests present were Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna, Government officials and clergy.

The delegation from Colombo also visited the construction work of the Fish Net Factory in Jaffna. One of the industries severely affected in the North by the Tsunami was the fishing industry and fishermen in the Jaffna Peninsula rely on imported fishing nets which are expensive. The completion of the Fish Net Factory will widely help the fishing industry in the North as well as the other parts of the country, with locally manufactured nets for their use.

The delegation visited the Urelu camp where Caritas Sri Lanka has built 40 semi permanent houses. According to Rev. Fr. C. G. Jeyakumar, Director Caritas Jaffna - HUDEC explained that a sum of Rs. 80,000 is spent per day to provide perishable and non perishable items for the IDP camo in Kopay.