3000 new houses to be built in the East this year

A housing project comprising one thousand houses will be constructed in the Batticoloa district under the 'Eastern Reawaking' programme initiated by the Government.

According to the General Manager of the National Housing Development Authority, Wasantha Wijeratne, the project is jointly funded by the Government and International Non-Government organizations.

The programme's main objective is to provide housing facilities for people whose homes were destroyed due to the conflict and the tsunami, he said after commencing the construction work of the new office building at Kalladi, Batticaloa.

"Within 2008 alone, 3,000 houses are to be constructed in the entire Eastern Province and 1,000 houses will be constructed in the Batticaloa district," Mr. Wijeratne said.

A new district office building for the NHDA in Batticoloa will be constructed with financial assistance from the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) which could contribute to expediting housing projects in the district, he said.

"The Government has given priority for development activities in the Eastern Province under the Nagenahira Navodaya programme. The housing development programme of the Eastern Province is one of the main activities of this development thrust, he further stated.