Two housing projects launched in Sri Lanka

Saturday, 10 January 2015 03:32 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

DOHA: Two housing projects have been launched in Mannar District, northern Sri Lanka, for families displaced by local armed conflicts. The projects have been funded by two Qatari sisters who opted for anonymity in pursuit of the great reward of undisclosed charity. The foundation stones of the two projects worth about QR3.1m ($849,315) were laid in the presence of a Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) delegation. QRC was represented by Ahmed Al Khulaifi, Head, Public Relations, in the presence of Rishad Badiuddin, former minister of trade and commerce, Hussain Mohamed Al Kubaisi, First Secretary, Qatari embassy in Sri Lanka, representatives of Sri Lanka Red Cross and Serendib Foundation for Relief and Development and local community leaders. They toured the project sites

before returning to the capital Colombo. The first project involves 70 family housing units for 460 people of the poorest families in Kondachi, Musali Division. It also involves constructing and furnishing of four shops, a school, a prayer centre and digging two artisan wells equipped with a 4,000-litre water tank and a solar-powered pump. The second project involves building 44 family housing units for 264 people in the village of Erukkalampiddy, in addition to two fully-furnished shops. The projects will be executed in partnership with the foundation, which also conducted a survey to identify beneficiaries. Earlier, a QRC assessment and inspection team visited the location and selected the housing design based on a completed housing project that proved practical and comfortable for occupants. The Sri Lankan Government has provided land for the new projects. Scheduled to be completed and handed over in a year, the homes will be built in compliance with international and environmental standards. Components and materials will be purchased from the local market, and execution will be done by local labour to create more job opportunities and improve the economic conditions of the local community, thus further serving the developmental and humanitarian goals of the projects. (The Peninsula)