New homes construction begins for 41 Ditwah-affected families in Kandaketiya

Construction of new houses began yesterday (7) in the Kandaketiya Divisional Secretariat Division in Badulla District for families who lost their homes or faced high-risk conditions due to the Ditwah disaster. The work falls under a government programme providing Rs. 5 million per family to construct new homes.

Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister Samantha Vidyaratne laid the foundation stone for the project at government-owned land in Mahathenna, Medaleyaya, Kandaketiya.

In the first phase, 41 new houses will be built for families whose homes were completely destroyed. The housing project will be carried out in several phases, and initial construction started yesterday. The programme is intended to provide safe and permanent housing, with Rs. 5 million allocated for each house.

Compensation cheques of Rs. 200,000 each were presented to 45 families whose houses were partially damaged, under the second phase of the relief programme.

Vidyaratne said the government is giving priority to providing safe housing to families who lost their homes or were exposed to high-risk conditions due to the disaster. He added that the relevant government institutions are continuing to work together to help these families return to safe and stable living conditions.

The programme is being implemented with the involvement of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, the Badulla District Secretariat and the National Disaster Relief Services Centre.

Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Dinidu Saman Hennayake, Kandaketiya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Harsha Ratnayake, Badulla District Secretary Sunil Galagama, the Kandaketiya Divisional Secretary, local government representatives, government officials and residents also participated in the event.