Another phase of the special “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme, aimed at resettling and providing relief to the people affected by the Ditwa Cyclone disaster in the Aranayake area, was successfully held today (12) at the premises of the closed school in Ruwanwendeniyā, Palle Pamunuwa, under the leadership of Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, Minister of Environment and Chairman of the Kegalle District Coordinating Committee.

At this programme, Certificates of Grant of Title were presented to 11 beneficiaries for the plots of land allocated from the premises of the closed Ruwanwendeniyā school. In addition, Rs. 2 million each was provided as the first instalment of the Rs. 5 million housing assistance allocated to each beneficiary. Infrastructure development work, including the construction of roads within the land, has also commenced concurrently with this programme.

Furthermore, Certificates of Grant of Title were presented to seven beneficiaries for their resettlement on identified government lands in the Narangammana, Habalakkawa and Thalgamuwa Grama Niladhari Divisions. The first instalment of Rs. 2 million, out of the Rs. 5 million housing assistance allocated to a beneficiary constructing a house on private land, was also provided.

The Government’s primary objective is to promptly fulfil the livelihood and housing needs of the people affected by the disaster, and arrangements have already been made to provide the relevant relief assistance to the remaining beneficiaries as soon as possible.

The occasion was attended by Mr. Nanda Bandara, Chairman of the Aranayake Regional Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament, along with members of the local political authority, Mr. K. G. S. Nishantha, Kegalle District Secretary, Mrs. Shamali Piyathissa, Aranayake Divisional Secretary, Mr. Sanoj Nishshanka, Assistant Divisional Secretary, the Deputy Director, the Administrative Grama Niladhari, other officials of the Divisional Secretariat, and a large number of members of beneficiary families.