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| Sunday, 4 September 2005 |
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More houses for tsunami affected by Don Asoka Wijewardena The Government does not have overnight solutions to the reconstruction of houses for tsunami-affected. Some electronic and print media have been in the habit of attacking the Government criticising the negative aspects of reconstruction of houses. Despite that we are going ahead with a clear vision and pragmatic approach to solve current issues, said Skills Development,Vocational and Technical Education Minister Piyasena Gamage at a handing over ceremony of sixteen houses to the tsunami-affected people at Monrovia Watta, Ratgama, Hikkaduwa on August 31. Minister Gamage said that it was a magnanimous gesture of the Florida Buddhist Vihara House-Building Project which volunteered to construct sixteen houses for homeless, tsunami-hit villagers in the Hikkaduwa area. He added that it was baseless to relentlessly criticise the Government despite the fact that a number of permanent houses had been built for the tsunami-affected. Sara Lee Courtaulds, Sri Lanka Regional Logistics Manager Maubrey Ginige said that the Sri Lankan community in Tampa, Florida, USA had worked tirelessly to raise funds through garage sales, car washings, golf tournaments and other activities to raise Rs. 10.2 million within a short period of time to help their tsunami-hit compatriots. Ginige also noted that most of the donations ranged from those contributed by elementary schoolchildren and parent-teacher associations and added that the quick completion of sixteen houses within a period of three months could be attributed to the hard work by Sri Lankans. She explained that each house was 546 sq.ft consisting of two bedrooms,a living room,pantry, two verandahs and a toilet. When asked about the cost of each house, Ms. Ginige said that each house cost Rs. 5 lakhs, while additional costs were incurred for levelling of soil,removal of boulders and retaining walls. Referring to the allocation of 1-acre land for the construction,she said that when she requested President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for a suitable land,President Kumaratunga had directed Ms. Ginige to the Urban Development Authority which released one acre land in Montrovia Watta, Ratgama, Hikkaduwa. Ginige also said that the Florida Buddhist Vihara was extremely grateful to the Sri Lankan Government which helped to complete the construction of houses in a timely manner donating their time and knowledge towards fruition of the Project. She said that Rs.8 million was spent to construct sixteen houses in Hikkaduwa. Regarding the balance money, Ms.Ginige said that Florida Buddhist Vihara had decided to use the balance to introduce a scholarship fund for the needy students in these sixteen families. Sunday Observer also had an opportunity to interview some of the occupants of sixteen houses for their comments. This is what they had to say. S. Dhanapala: When tsunami struck, we were in Kataragama. When we returned home we found that several houses including ours had been washed away. We never expected to get a house, but Minister Piyasena Gamage did an excellent job to assist tsunami-hit villagers in the area. K. Agilinnona: I appreciate all Sri Lankans living in Florida whose hearts melted hearing the widespread devastation caused by tsunami. The donation they made was a great meritorious act. We wish every success to the Florida Buddhist Vihara. T. H. Marthelis: Tsunami destroyed our house and all belongings. We had to find temporary settlements in a makeshift camp where we were leading a thorny life. We thank Minister Piyasena Gamage and Florida Buddhist Vihara for giving us a permanent shelter to live. This is really a humanitarian act which deserves widespread acceptance. Sanjeewa Wijesiri: I am a fisherman by profession. We never knew that Sri Lankans living abroad would come to our rescue. Now we can have a sigh of relief as we were able to get a house to live with two school-going children. President's Secretary W. J. S. Karunaratne, Minister Piyasena Gamage and some senior officials of the Ministry of Urban Development handed over house keys to the respective owners. |
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