Title deeds for resettled IDPs

Action will be taken to issue titled deeds to a majority of the resettled, said Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda at a ceremony recently to mark the opening of a new building for the Co-operative Society and another for the pre- school at Illavalai Vasanthapuram area in the Tellipallai Divisional Secretariat Division.

He also handed over renovated houses to the newly resettled.

He said action was taken to resettle a large number of displaced families in their own homesteads and soon they will be issued with title deeds for their respective residences.

Minister Douglas Devananda distributing food and other welfare items to resettled IDPs

The renovation work of houses was carried out in Ilavalai North Western Region belonging to No 222 Grama Niladhari Division at a cost of Rs 55 million. Out of the 500 families displaced from the area, 218 families have now been resettled. Fifty renovated houses were handed over to the owners with the title deeds.

The minister added that consequent to a discussion he had with the UNDP, the Norwegian government implemented this project. The minister thanked the Norwegian government, its people and the UNDP for their support in completing the project. The minister also said he was looking forward to receiving more aid from Norway towards further development of the North.

First Secretary to the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka Motellia said at the ceremony that the Norwegian government and its people were willing to help the Sri Lankan government and Sri Lanka had been a friend of Norway for a long period and would continue to be so.

UNDP Administrative Officer for Sri Lanka Rasheena, Northern Province Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri and Jaffna GA Imelda Sukumar also spoke.

Subsequent to this function, Major General Chandrasiri and the minister opened the Grama Niladhari Offices at Kanthi Selvapuram and Kurumbasiddi in Tellipallai.

Each Grama Niladhari office had been constructed at a cost of Rs. 168,346,185 by the Economic Development Ministry under the Uthuru Vasanthaya programme.

Separate offices for the Grama Niladhari, Samurdhi officer and family health service officer are housed in the newly established Grama Niladhari Office.

Tellipallai Divisional Secretary Muralidharam also participated in this ceremony.