Differently-abled get houses in Kurunegala

Irangika RANGE

The first phase of the 100 houses project for differently-abled persons commenced in Kurunegala under the Social Services Ministry.

As an initial step, Social Services Minister Felix Perera laid foundation stones to construct two houses in Govakotuwa, Maspotha and Thibbotupitiya in the Kurunegala district recently. Under this programme, action has been taken to construct 80 houses for each Divisional Secretariat Division at a cost of Rs 250,000 each while 20 houses will be constructed at a cost of Rs 150,000 each.

The housing project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Social Services Minister Felix Perera said it is compulsory for differently- abled recipients to have their own plot of land or the approval of their parents if housing units are to be construed in their own ancestral lands.

"We have taken a number of steps to empower differently -abled persons in Sri Lanka.

One was the increased awareness of the needs and rights of such persons. We made parents, teachers, NGOs and ministries aware of a collective effort to improve the living standards of differently- abled persons. A number of new services has been introduced for their benefit," he added.