CARE International begins construction of permanent houses in Trinco

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 September 2005, 17:48 GMT]
Mr. Nick Osborne, Country Director of CARE International- Sri Lanka Thursday laid the foundation construction of permanent houses for tsunami-affected families in Naduoothu, a Muslim village in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district. The project is conducted under the Post Tsunami Recovery and Development Program. 125 houses will be constructed in the first phase.

The project is funded by the Australian people through CARE Australia, DEC- CARE UK, SHO-CARE Netherlands, MOFA-CARE Deutschland, ADH-CARE Deutschland.

CARE International-Sri Lanka is implementing the project in collaboration with Kinniya Divisional Secretariat, sources said.

CARE International is to build 250 permanent houses in Naduoothu, 225 in Maniarasankulam and 125 in Thamaraivillu, sources said.

Each house will be constructed on a five hundred square feet of land at a cost about five hundred thousand rupees. Under this project each beneficiary is allocated twenty perch of land enabling them to start livelihood schemes such as goat rearing, poultry and high land cultivation.

Families of tsunami destroyed Rahumania Nagar are to be relocated in Naduoothu where permanent houses are to be constructed, CARE International sources said.

At the commencement of the foundation laying stone event, the chief guest Mr. Nick Osborne accompanied by Mr.Dayananda Silva, Director, Humanitarian Assistance for CARE International in Sri Lanka, Ms Hiranthi Vithanage, Human Resources Director of Care International and Humanitarian Assistance for CARE International in Batticaloa and Amparai Messrs. Mamangarajah and Awadia Mohamed were received at the site by beneficiaries.

Kinniya Divisional Secretary Mr. A.B.M.Ashraff represented the Government Agent.

Mr. Nick Osborne said CARE International has a long history in Sri Lanka and has been functioning in Trincomalee since 1999.

"With tsunami disaster we have increased our presence in several districts. We would also provide assistance to the beneficiaries to restore their normal life and to recommence income generating activities in the field of agriculture and fishing," he said.

Mr.Dayananda Silva made the welcome address. Mr.Ashraff also spoke.