2,400 houses await construction

By Sinniah Gurunathan, Trincomalee correspondent

With the sudden withdrawal of some NGOs that had pledged to construct houses for tsunami affected families, some 2,400 houses are still to be constructed. These sentiments were expressed by A.Nadarajah, Trincomalee district Additional Government Agent who is responsible for the rehabilitation work.

Commenting on the progress of the construction of permanent houses for tsunami-affected families in Trincomalee, he said :“Earlier it was decided to construct about ten thousand permanent houses.

Later it was reduced to some 6,000 houses. Some 110 NGOs and INGOs came forward to construct these houses in the district soon after the tragedy. But later 80 of the organizations withdrew from their commitment citing reasons such as the on going war and transport problems.

The construction of some 6000 houses is being carried out by the remaining organizations. Still some affected families are residing in temporary shelters. The balance houses are being constructed with the funds allocated by the central government through the Trincomalee District Secretariat.”

“The tsunami destroyed coastal areas in 59-grama niladhari divisions located in six Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Trincomalee Town and Gravets, Kuchchaveli, Kinniya, Mutur, Eachchilampathu and Seruvila in Trincomalee district,” he said.