Roofing sheets distributed among poor families

by Thihagoda group correspondent

Samurdhi Development programme and the National Development Process initiated on the instructions of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga have made a very significant progress at the moment. Main objectives of these exercises would be to eliminate poverty and unemployment in Sri Lanka, said Chandrasiri Gajadeera Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction Industry, Eastern Provincial Irrigation and Education Development and Deputy Minister of Fisheries.

He made these observations at a ceremony held at the Siddhartha Maha Vidyalaya at Weligama recently, for distribution of roofing sheets worth Rs. 20 million for selected 800 poor families from Welipitiya and Weligama Divisional Secretariat Divisions. Under the 'Sewana Piyasa' programme, housing units are to be provided for over 75,000 houseless families in the district of Matara. In addition to roofing sheets, roofing tiles would be given to them.

Previous UNP administrations directed their attentions for making the rich richer. As a result the poor became poorer, Deputy Minister Gajadeera stated. The greatest ambition and the hard effort of the present UPFA regime would be to ameliorate the standard of living of the have-nots.

Although, the recent tsunami has adversely affected this country the present Government has been able to persist its development process.

Over 1,600 transitional shelters have been put-up for tidal wave displaced families in the district. Besides, Rs. 100 million have been made for purchasing furniture and other essential household items for these shelters 'Siyathana' housing projects are being implemented in Matara alone. The same has now been highly successful, Deputy Minister Gajadeera added.

Southern Provincial Member, Bindu Weerasinghe, Matara Municipal Council Member I. H. Sirisena and several others also spoke.

Distribution of roofing sheets was also done by Deputy Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera and other invitees.