Jaffna based Army battalions built 680 new houses to be handed over
soon
The Mega project for construction of 680 new houses
for poverty-ridden families who have arrived in the Jaffna peninsula for
resettlement is fast nearing completion, as each Jaffna-based Army
battalion has undertaken the responsibility for erection of 15 houses
when the project was launched on 1st March 2010.
Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Commander
Security Forces, Jaffna, who pioneered the project harnessed the support
of the District Secretary for Jaffna, all Divisional Secretaries and
Grama Seva Niladharis in the peninsula for the mega project as every
battalion under command to 51, 52, 55 Divisions and Task Force - VII is
expected to build 15 such houses as directed by civil authorities who
have allocated land for this purpose from respective areas.
The Army providing work force, finance and raw
materials for the construction is to build each house with 2 rooms, a
kitchen, a sitting room plus a toilet. District Secretary Mr. K Ganesh
who has extended his support for the project issues 12 galvanized
roofing sheets for each house at government's cost.
A large number of philanthropists and well-wishers in
Jaffna have come forward to offer their assistance to the project by way
of donating building materials, etc as the project got off the ground.
Each house is expected to be handed over to its recipient before the
forthcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year.
Most of those families with no permanent dwelling
places or any permanent source of income have been badly affected due to
poverty, and most of them do not have proper means of livelihoods. The
Army, realizing the need to have their own places of abode on a priority
basis, planned the implementation of the project with the support of the
government and other private donors. Army troops in each battalion are
enthusiastically providing their tireless support for the project,
working almost about ten or more hours a day as the deadline for the
delivery is now round the corner.
Courtesy : SL Army | 
