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| Sunday, 25 December 2005 |
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Features |  |
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GMSL, Sahana Project hand over 31 houses to tsunami displaced Thirty one completed houses have been handed over to residents of Kalametiya in Ambalantota who had been displaced by the tsunami. The housing scheme was built largely thanks to the efforts of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka, the Sahana Project of the USA and the Development Fund of Norway. The project launched on January 30, 2005 with the participation of the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, was developed as a novel concept in the post-tsunami recovery process, involving holistic and participatory methods of reconstruction. The housing complex was declared open ceremoniously subsequent to religious ceremonies presided over by the Maha Sangha, by the Hambantota Divisional Secretary, M. A. Piyasena, Director of the Sahana Project Ru Freeman, and Duranya Freeman, her daughter, who was representing children all over the state of Maine, USA, who had worked hard and contributed much towards providing assistance to the people of Kalametiya. Representatives of the Norwegian Development Fund, Goal Ireland and the UNDP-GEF/SGP, the other partner organisations, were also represented at the ceremony. Nine trees were planted in memory of relatives who had died in the tsunami and thereafter the houses were formally handed over to the new residents. The housing complex has been named "Minsiripura" by the residents themselves who are striving to recover their lives and livelihoods after the tsunami tragedy. The houses were designed by reputed architect, Madhura Prematilake of Team Architrave according to the specifications of the villagers. The comprehensive plan envisages the construction of a community development centre and a playground for the children. Parallel to this, a rainwater harvesting mechanism will be put in place by the end of January giving the villagers a storage capacity of 5000 liters of water, adequate for both household consumption and home gardening. The village has already been provided with a special line to bring pipe-borne water and electricity will be provided via a special transformer shortly. The CEB has promised to give priority to this effort. Particularly interesting was the connections that were established between the children in Minsiripura and those in Maine, USA. The Sahana Project has focusing its efforts on developing people-to-people assistance, putting families and children from both communities in touch with one another. Gifts from the children of Maine were handed over to the little children in Minsiripura by Duranya, who said that it was an opportunity to bring the two worlds she belongs to, Sri Lanka and the United States, together. Mr. Piyasena lauded the efforts of the Green Movement and the Sahana Project for coming up with a comprehensive development strategy towards building sustainable livelihoods, an effort that is not evidenced in other parts of the country. Suranjan Kodituwakku, Chief Organiser of the Green Movement, said it was because like minded people from the NGO sector, the government and other orgnisations worked together that this was made possible. He particularly expressed appreciation for the children of Maine who had responded with great heart and commitment towards helping the people of Kalametiya. Ru Freeman said that it was because many in Maine shared the vision of the Green Movement that they gave without hesitation for this project, firm in their belief that something worthwhile and lasting would result from the exercise. She pledged to continue to develop the links between the two communities as the people of Kalametiya face the challenges ahead.
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