Australia assists Northern returnees

The Australian Government, in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), has assisted 3,785 returnee families to reconstruct or repair their damaged houses in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Killinochchi districts.

To mark the completion of the 18th month of the Rs 1 billion project, the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Kathy Klugman, visited Kallaru village in Killinochchi yesterday to hand over 100 houses constructed under the project. Government officials, UN-HABITAT representatives and the people participated.

The Australian Government commenced the programme in January, 2010. The project has helped families in over 40 villages.

Around 1,110 families received support to rebuild their homes while 2,675 families received support to undertake major repairs to damaged houses.