Cabinet approves to build 10,000 houses to settle displaced individuals

The Cabinet gave approval to purchase private land for 50 families to resettle in Jaffna as there is no sufficient state land, an official said yesterday.   

These families live in welfare camps at the moment. Secretary to the Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development and Youth Affairs Ministry V. Sivagnanasothy said each family would be allocated 20 perch land. He said Rs.35 million had been released to purchase land from the private sector.   

On the initiative of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, 10,000 bricks and mortar houses are constructed with funding from the government for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugee Returnees in the conflict affected Northern and Eastern Provinces.   

Of the 10,000 houses, the construction work of 4750 houses started in early January are nearing completion. Out of 4750 houses 1500 houses are located in Jaffna, 670 houses in Kilinochchi, 630 houses in Mullaitivu, 350 houses in Mannar, 450 houses in Vavuniya, 625 houses in Batticaloa, 400 houses in Trincomalee and 125 houses in Ampara and all these houses are nearing completion said Secretary, Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development and Youth Affairs, V. Sivagnanasothy.  Some of the houses were handed over to the beneficiaries in Jaffna and Trincomalee Districts by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.  

With regard to the phase-II houses amounting to 5,250, in Jaffna 1065 houses (covering the newly resettled area), Killinochchi 855 houses, Mullaitivu 695 houses, Mannar 850 houses, Vavuniya 550 houses and Trincomalee 600 houses are expected to be completed by the end of  August 2019, said the Ministry Secretary. The cost per housing unit is Rs.1 million and Rs.10 billion has been allocated in 2019 for the construction of 10,000 houses in the conflict affected Northern and Eastern Provinces.   These houses have floor area of 550 square foot, two bed rooms, kitchen, living room and toilet and the roof is made of Calicut tiles. These houses are constructed under owner driven modality. Therefore, family members and people in the vicinity have got employment opportunity for their livelihood.   

 A cabinet Paper was submitted by the Prime Minister to resettle the 381 landless families who are in the welfare centres . As there is a severe shortage in state lands in Jaffna District, Cabinet has granted approval to purchase 20 perch of private land for each family based on the chief valuer’s recommendation to resettle the landless families in the welfare centres and take early action to close the welfare centres. Rs.35mn has been released to purchase private lands to resettle 50 landless families in the welfare camps.   

The cost per housing unit is Rs.1 million and Rs.10 billion has been allocated in 2019 for the construction of 10,000 houses in the conflict affected Northern and Eastern Provinces