Housing projects at Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi

by L.S. Ananda Wedaarachchi

The Engineering Services, Construction, Housing and Common Amenities Ministry together with the Resettlement Ministry will launch a housing project with 1,000 units in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi next week, said National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) General Manager L.S. Palansuriya.

The significant feature of this housing project is that the beneficiary will receive Rs. 100,000 as a grant from the Resettlement Ministry and a soft loan of Rs. 200,000 from the NHDA. The beneficiaries could also participate in construction work.

The participatory community action system in house building which we implemented in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi was hailed at the UN Habitat session in Nairobi, Kenya recently. House owners become the skilled house builders since they also work with the skilled masons and carpenters under this program, Palansuriya said.

The first housing scheme- the Araviyal Nagar housing scheme for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) was completed within eight months and the houses were presented to the IDPs in April this year. The Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi housing project will cost Rs. 300 million. Infrastructure facilities such as roads, electricity and water will be provided by the government.