Houses for expatriate workers:

Expatriate workers are Rata Viruvos - Basil

Katugastota Group Corr.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had two major objectives under the Mahinda Chinthana programme. One was to end the war and restore peace strengthening the heart and morale of the soldier by calling him a hero and the other was to strengthen the national economy by strengthening the heart and mind of expatriate workers who brought almost 100 percent of the foreign exchange earned by the country by giving them a sense of pride by calling them Rata Viruvo, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Rata Viru Piyasa programme of building houses for Sri Lankan expatriate workers at the Galagedara Dr. Sarath Amunugama playground on March 12.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa said it was the foreign exchange earned by expatriate workers which enabled the country to purchase much needed weaponry and aircraft for the successful conclusion of the humanitarian operation which liberated the country from terrorism.

Expatriate workers went abroad leaving behind their loved ones, friends and relatives with the sole intention of building a house, providing better education to children and imposing the economic standard of the family.

The government which realized this took up the challenge of building houses for expatriate workers through the Samurdhi Authority.

But when a Bill was presented to grant better job security and ensure a bright future to the 27,000 cadre of staff of the Samurdhi Authority, they had to face many obstacles from various quarters, he said.

Now that the Divi Neguma Bill had become law, the future of Samurdhi officers had become more secure.

That was why the Samurdhi had promised their full support and cooperation for the successful implementation of the Rataviru Piyasa programme, he said.

International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister and Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said he is thankful to Minister Basil Rajapaksa for launching the Rataviru Piyasa programme from the Galagedara electorate.

He said the President had entrusted the responsibility of successfully completing the war to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the responsibility of improving the national economy to Basil Rajapaksa and both had shown the capability to successfully complete their mission.

Parliamentarian Dilum Amunugama also spoke.