German grant for tsunami housing reconstruction here

COLOMBO: The German Government will assist to build capacity of the Government institutions of Sri Lanka in charge of tsunami reconstruction programme until june 2008.

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ), the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) assisted Tsunami Housing Support Project (THSP) will implement this programme costing Euro 04 Million (approximately Rs. 536,000,000.

The implementation agreement on building the capacity of the government institutions in charge of tsunami housing reconstruction was signed at the Ministry of Housing and Construction on Wednesday.

Housing and Construction Ministry Secretary P. Weerahandi signed the agreement on behalf of the Government while GTZ Country Director Dr. Roland Steurer signed on behalf of the GTZ.

Weerahandi said Sri Lanka was gaining experience from other countries through this project and with German support.

Community participation is an approach which has very strong roots in Sri Lanka and must be implemented more efficiently in the field of housing reconstruction in the future," he said.

Councillor of the German Embassy Andreas Hartmann, also spoke.

The project's goal to build the capacity of the governmental institutions in charge of tsunami housing reconstruction. Capacity building stands for quality improvement of technical and soft skills such as construction and planning as well as communication, coordination and management techniques.

The ultimate goal is to implement the reconstruction process effectively with the participation of tsunami affected people. Key persons within Government institutions will be trained in housing reconstruction techniques until June 2008.