New sanitation project benefit 20 schools

Sri Lanka Red Cross Society is conducting water sanitation and housing projects for the newly resettled villagers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Accordingly, a project to build 2,000 houses for 20 villages and a large-scale water sanitation project in Ampara were launched by the Sri Lanka Red Cross.

Over 20 schools and 64 community areas are benefited by the water sanitation program in Ampara. It was handed over to the public recently. The project is worth around Rs. 100 million, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) said.

“It is a national responsibility to rebuild the Northern and Eastern provinces, supporting the newly resettled communities,” SLRCS President Jagath Abeysinghe said. The beneficiaries are selected by the District Secretary of the respective areas with the assistance from the Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladharis.

The ongoing housing project benefits families from Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts and the SLRCS plans to complete 1,000 houses by the end of this year. “we have already completed 300 houses and the balance number of houses are under construction.

This is basically a community-driven project where we provide the building material and the family will build their home. The project includes livelihood assistant programs as well ,” said Col. Sudath Madugalle, Head of SLRCS Operations. The SLRCS also provides a grant for each of these house owners to upgrade their livelihood activities. School bags, stationery items and uniform material will be presented to the schoolchildren in these families.

- DY