Greece to build tsunami houses

The Chief Minister of the Southern Province Shan Wijayalal de Silva, the Head of HELLENIC AID Special Mission in Colombo of the Embassy of Greece in New Delhi, Minister Counsellor - Development Cooperation George Filippeos, the Chairman of the INGO "Medecins du Monde - Greece"

(MDM - Greece) Dr. Eleftheria Parthenopoulou and the Program DirectorTsunami Education Rehabilitation Monitor (TERM) Sivaji De Zoysa, Balapitiya SLFP Chief organizer Premalal De Silva, laid the foundation stone of the first of the four building extensions in four schools damaged, through their use as Welfare Centres for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Balapitiya and Ambalangoda.

Also present at the Ceremony were the Zonal Director of Education of the Southern Province Piyasena Godagama, the Secretary of Deputy Minister W. Premadasa Provincial Council members, Chamli and Hemal Gunasekara, the chairman and deputy chairman of Balapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha and the Galle district Government Agent.

The Tsunami of December 26, 2004 resulted in 182 schools being partially or fully damaged and an additional 444 schools damaged due to their use as IDP welfare centers.

This had an impact on the lives of over 350,000 school children. It is to note that HELLENIC AID of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs was amongst the first donors in Sri Lanka after the Tsunami.

They are presently financing several development projects in the Country in theEducation, Health, Fishing Harbours and Fishing Boats Sectors. Implementation of these projects is being undertaken by experienced Greek INGOs. The above mentioned projects which will upgrade and build new extensions in 4 IDP schools in agricultural areas, namely: Sri Abayatissa Maha Vidyalaya, G/Wimadasara Vidyalaya, G/ Wathurawela Gamini Kanishta and Maaduwa Maha Vidyalaya, are going to be implemented by the INGO MDM - Greece. MDM - Greece has operated in Sri Lanka for the past two years and will also implement another three projects in the Health sector (construction of two Gramodaya Clinics and one Hospital Paediatric Ward) in the Eastern Province.

Together with the MOE, TERM has been able to resolve all land relocation issues and ensured all related donors have started the reconstruction process of these schools. So far, 29 damaged schools and 67 IDP schools have been reconstructed/rehabilitated and handed over. About 200 school construction projects are currently in progress with the assistance and facilitation of TERM.