Forces' housing scheme ready
President Mahinda Rajapaksa will ceremonially hand over the largest
housing scheme Rajapura Ipallogama village to the Armed Forces on
November 22. Addressing the media yesterday at the Media Centre for
National Security, Defence Ministry Additional Secretary Willie Gamage
said under the Mahinda Chintana a 50,000 housing project was set up by
President Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for the
Armed Forces. "Rajapura Ipallogama village will be the first phase of
the housing project.
The Rajapura Ipallogama housing village is located near Kalawewa in
the Anuradhapura district. Around 1,509 houses were built for the Armed
Forces with all facilities including a school, hospital, shops, welfare
centre, play ground etc. This housing scheme includes much more
facilities than the Millennium City housing project.
Gamage asserted that the Rajapura village has marked a historical
record. "This housing project is the largest housing project ever
constructed by any Government. It was set up on a 180 acres of land with
all facilities for the Armed Forces who are currently in the service,"
he added.
A single housing unit is valued at approximately Rs.2.4 million.
A recipient will have to pay Rs. 800,000 without interest for an
eight-year term.
The Government with its four-year term has achieved remarkably what
it has promised for the Armed Forces welfare activities. Defence
Secretary Rajapaksa had gone to every district to find out about the
problems and grievances of the soldiers and their families. Based on
that, many welfare activities were carried out by the MoD. Accordingly
the Government had given free lands for the Forces to build their
houses.
Funds and soft loans were given to members of the forces to complete
their uncompleted houses, the MoD working with the Government Ministries
plans to build 24,000 houses for the Armed Forces and construct villages
in the difficult areas such as the Ipallogama village.
"The Government has given 4,117 lands, 1,992 houses and Rs. 200
million worth of loans without interest to the Armed Forces," he added.
Director General of the MCNS Lakshman Hulugalla said the Government
has done an immense service for the welfare of the Armed Forces within
five months of the war victory.
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