Lanka to get 1000 houses

Batticaloa: “The government has planned to construct 1000 houses in the Batticaloa District under the ‘Negenahira Navodaya’ housing programme in the year 2008.

This programme is funded partly by International Non-Governmental Organizations. The main objective of this programme is to provide housing to people whose houses were destroyed due to the war and the Tsunami disaster,” said National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) General Manager Wasantha Wijeratne recently addressing a function to mark the launching of construction work of the new NHDA office building at Kallady, Batticaloa.

The NHDA new district office building will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 10 million provided by German Technical Co-operation (GTZ). The work on this building is to be completed within four months so it could be opened to coincide with the World Habitat Day falling on October 6, 2008.

The foundation stones were laid by NHDA General Manager Wijeratne and the Regional Engineer of GTZ in Batticaloa.

Mr. Wijeratne also said “The government has given priority to the development activities in Eastern Province under the ‘Negenahira Navodaya’ programme. The Housing Development Programme is one of the main activities of ‘Negenahira Navodaya’. In the year 2008, 3000 houses are to be constructed in the Eastern Province and 1000 houses will be constructed in the Batticaloa District itself.”

NHDA Deputy General Manager L.S. Palansuriya and Batticaloa District Manager, K. Jeganathan also spoke. Assistant General Manager NHDA, Dammika Gunawardena, Ampara District Manager J.N. Jeyachandran and Kalmunai Senior Manager N. Sivapathasundaram also participated.