Houses for needy SL migrant workers

Foreign employment authorities are planning to provide houses to needy Sri Lankan migrant workers at concessionary rates.

Authorities will undertake the responsibility of constructing houses in accordance with the plans and locations of the recipients.

The migrant workers will have to bear only two thirds of the cost while one third will be borne by the authorities. It will be carried out as a project under the newly formed 'Rataviruwo'(heroes of our economy) organization.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and the Samurdhi Authority will join hands to carry out the task. An agreement will be signed with the Samurdhi authority to expedite the programme, the SLBFE chairman Amal Senalankadikara said.

The migrant workers willing to purchase houses under the programme will be required to open an account with Samurdhi Banks and remit a monthly instalment. It will be held as an investment fund to expedite the construction of houses.

The relatives of the workers back home will be required to monitor the construction of the houses implemented by the 'Rata Viruwo' organization of the area. The 'Rataviruwo' organization is a concept of the Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister, Dilan Perera.

At present the SLBFE and the Ministry is carrying out the task of establishing the organization in every district secretariat division in the country.

It is to be developed as a people's movement involving state authorities, migrant workers and their families, among others.

The aim is to bring in positive changes in the economic and social levels of migrant workers and their families.

According to SLBFE Chairman Senalankadikara the organization will be developed as a grassroots movement which will help migrant workers and their families at rediscovering their ability to influence their own destinies.

The organization will promote community health, education, livelihood programmes, cottage industries etc. among migrant worker families.

It is estimated that over 1.7 million Sri Lankans work outside the country. They have remitted more than US $ 5 Billion in 2011. The contribution made by Sri Lankan Migrant Labour Force has exceeded the income received from traditional export income generating sectors such as tea, coconut, rubber, gem and garments.