Fifty houses
handed over to
tsunami-hit families
in Hambantota
Fifty newly-built
houses at "Singhapura Maithri Gama" in the Hambantota
District were handed over to tsunami-affected people in the
Hambantota area by President Mahinda Rajapakse at a simple
ceremony held in a 33-acre land in Hambantota on Monday.
The Hambantota housing project was originated by the
Singapore Red Cross Society and assisted by Singapore
Buddhist Research Society Advisor Ven. Dr. Bellanwila
Wimalaratana Nayake Thera.
President Rajapakse after unveiling the plaque at the new "Singhapura
Maithri Gama" at the invitation of its architect and
Singapore Buddhist Research Society Advisor Ven.
Dhammarathana Nayake Thera declared open the new housing
complex in the presence of Singaporean delegation including
officials of the Singapore Red Cross Society.
The visiting Singapore delegates were led by Chief
Coordinator of the project E David, Prof. Wong Weng Fai,
Chairman Singapore Buddhist Research Society and Susan Chong,
Chief Trustee of the Singapore Buddhist Research Society.
President Rajapakse paid a tribute Bellanwila Raja Maha
Viharadhipathi Ven. Dr. Wimalaratana Nayake Thera, Officials
of the Singapore Red cross Society and the Singapore
Buddhist Research Society for their great effort in building
houses for the Sri Lankan tsunami affected people.
"As Prime Minister, I appealed to all Sri Lankans to assist
in the tsunami tragedy in
last December. People of
different walks of life promptly came forward to assist
thetsunami-affected shedding all differences," President
Rajapakse said.
The President handed over the first set of keys of a new
house to three children who lost their parents. The three
sons were present at the ceremony with their grandparents.
Udaya Pushpakumara, the eldest son of the deceased parents,
invoked the blessings of the Triple Gem on the President and
the organisers of the housing project for giving shelter for
them to live and in assisting tsunami affected people in the
Hambantota area.
Each house consists of a bedroom, a sitting room and a
kitchen with an attached bathroom in a 20-perch block
costing Rs.500,000. Donors are planning to complete the
project with 150 houses to be handed over to tsunami
affected people in the Hambantota District.
Ven. Wimalaratana Nayake Thera said that the entire project
with 150 houses will be completed early next year. In
addition to the 150 houses, the organisers are planning to
construct a build building for a school, a community centre
and medical clinic for the benefit of the new occupants of
the houses, Ven. Wimalaratana Nayake Thera said.
The new occupants received a parcel of provisions and
several school bags for children by the organisers.
