A new home for the tsunami victims

On 25th February we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Urban Development Authority and TAFREN for our Polathumodara housing project. Under this they agree to allocate the 32 acres plot of land in Weligama for us and we agree to build at least 200 houses in it.

The Urban Development Authority is now in the process of acquiring the land. In the mean time we submitted our design plan for approval and we also will carry out the survey.

These 1-storey houses will be around 600 sq ft, and cost approximately 550,000 Rupees (5,500 USD). We plan to build 250 to 300 houses on these 32 acres, but this needs to be finalised when we do the survey and the contour plan.

The idea after that is to appoint a contractor to build all houses. Starting date for the construction of this scheme depends on when the Urban Development Authority will have acquired the plot.

On 3rd March we started building 2-storey houses in Pelena area. These houses will be around 900 sq ft, at an approximate cost of 750,000 Rupees (7,500 USD). They will be constructed beyond the 100 m water line and on the house owners' land itself. Initially we propose around 50 houses, but it may go up to 100. Partially damaged houses in this zone will be repaired but if this is impossible the demolished structure will be replaced by a new 2-storey design, to protect them for future floods. The people living in this zone have experienced the disaster and feel the need to protect themselves.