Plantation workers get 80 new houses

Shirley Wijesinghe

Plantation workers although people of Indian origin, play a vital role to strengthen the country's economy, Plantation Industries Minister D. M. Jayaratne said

He added that the Government had taken several measures to uplift the living standards of the plantation community providing them an ownership of a house to become recognized in society.

Addressing a meeting after opening the Rockchild and Helboda plantations housing scheme constructed in the Gampola electorate recently, Minister Jayaratne said the British Government housed the Indian workers in plantation areas by constructing unhealthy line rooms.

The line rooms remain as they were without any infrastructure facilities. Considering the importance of the plantation workers in national development , 80 new houses had been built by the Government to fulfill the pledge made in the Mahinda Chinthana policy, he said.

Jayaratne appreciated the assistance of Housing and Common Amenities and Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Ministries' joint participation in contributing to the success of the housing development project.

According to Ministry sources the total construction cost of Rs. 30 million for the housing project was met by funds provided by Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Ministries.

Each house was built on a Rs. 200, 000 loan and Rs. 175,000 cash and material assistance.