Four school playgrounds to house Aranayaka victims

By Pradeep Kumara Dharmaratne from Aranayaka

Organisers inspecting the site for temporary shelters for Aranayaka victims

The playgrounds of four schools as well as a land extent in Erabadupitiya have been allocated to construct 329 temporary shelters for families displaced in the Aranayaka disaster. ShelterBox, a British non-profit organization specialising in rebuilding has collaborated with the Army to construct these houses on a nine-month contract. The shelters will be built on the Dippitiya Muslim School, Mawathagoda Rivisanda Central College, Aranayaka Manadi Vidyalaya and Narangammana Kanishta Vidyalaya playgrounds.

According to the Kegalle District Secretariat, each family will get a single unit, with distant relatives in neighbouring shelters to create a familiar and friendly environment.

On a request made by the Disaster Management Ministry, the Rotary Club Capital City, Sri Lanka Architectures' Association and Oxfam Sri Lanka will provide assistance.

Electricity will be provided by the Electricity Board and the water lines will be provided by Sri Lanka Red Cross and Oxfam Sri Lanka. The Road Development Authority has undertaken to construct roads to the housing sites.

One main kitchen will be constructed for each site. The Kegalle District Secretariat is in charge of construction and to provide utensils and dry rations.

With the assistance of the Aranayaka Divisional Secretariat, the Sri Lanka Architecture Association(SLAA) will overlook the construction process. Secretary SLAA Russel Dandeniya said the purpose of the shelters is to relocate the people in camps as families in separate housing units.

This measure will provide the affected communities with some relief, prior to being resettled in permanent homes. Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe said the Army will provide assistance till the permanent houses are completed.