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Construction of 65,000 houses to commence soon

13 April 2016 09:22 am - 20     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The construction of 65,000 houses for conflict affected families in the North-East will begin in the next two months and the selection of beneficiaries is being carried out by District and Divisional Secretaries of the two provinces right now, a senior Cabinet Minister said.

Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M.Swaminathan speaking exclusively to Daily Mirror from India yesterday said there would be no calling of new tenders or revisit of the tender offered to Arcelor Mittal Construction in France or call tenders afresh as requested by the Joint Opposition.

”Reluctantly though, we have to accept one fact which is that local contractors or investors are not capable of undertaking a massive project of this magnitude. That is why we offered the tender to Arcelor Mittal which is a globally recognised multinational construction company. We also want to finish the task within the targeted time and resettle 65,000 families in two years,” Minister Swaminathan said.

Elaborating on the controversial housing project he said the Cabinet has decided to award the tender to this prestigious French construction company to ensure the quality and durability of the houses to be built. There were doubts whether a local company would successfully complete the project in a given time frame and whether required resources and raw material like sand, cement, bricks, roofing and human resources were available in the local market.

Minister Swaminathn said priorities will be given in the allocation of houses to conflict affected people residing in welfare centres, conflict affected women headed families, families with disabilities due to conflict, families with missing persons and disappearances due to conflict and refugee returnees who lost their shelters and lived in welfare camps. (Sandun A Jayasekera)


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  Comments - 20

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  • Sirisena Yatawara Wednesday, 13 April 2016 04:27 PM

    This type of rabbit housed can build by overnight. Is this Indian reconciliation and rehabilitation by UNP-Ranil W... regime?

    Onlooker Friday, 15 April 2016 04:10 PM

    All nonscece, our local construction companies have successfully implemented bigger projects. Please do not degrade our own people.

    Lanka Friday, 15 April 2016 03:09 AM

    The bottom line is, we cannot trust our own....

    kolla Friday, 15 April 2016 02:35 AM

    There is no robbery. I have seen model houses by Mittal and they are of very high quality

    Raj Wednesday, 13 April 2016 11:55 PM

    When Cayman Papers, Bermuda Papers, Bahamas Papers, Guernsey Papers and Jersey Papers come out, we can find some 65000*USDXXX among them!!!

    Lanka Watch Wednesday, 13 April 2016 09:45 PM

    TNA and CM, NPC - Pls do not listen to dictates of rehabilitation Minister Mr. Swaminathan, who was notelected by the people. Pls get to the President andstop the housing project in N/E. Give the localcontractors a chance as these are small houses andnot palaces.. Who the hell he things to over rule thepeople and the CM of the area.

    kondaya77 Wednesday, 13 April 2016 09:29 PM

    somebody will get very rich!

    Hussein Wednesday, 13 April 2016 09:05 PM

    I have been and inspected these model houses Even in hot temperature these houses are cool From inside with solar power furniture toilets Built in kitchen.Perfect never seen anything like it These are real homes to live in.Best in the world for the poor people they Can move in with just there clothes An amazing step forward from the new Sri Lankan Government good to see there are actually doing Some thing for the displaced people by the war.

    BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 13 April 2016 07:53 PM

    Believe me, we only have pseudo experts. We are a crooked nation both leaders and citizens. We only know to rob. Our electrical engineers even cannot maintain basic transformers and need external experts to analyze why the transformer failed. Don't live in a fantasy world thinking that we are a professional country, those days left us with Independence. Since then the southern yakkos have gradually killed this nation gradually.

    BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 13 April 2016 07:47 PM

    When Chinese government orders the GOSL not to invite the Dalai Lama inside the country, all Sinhalese are quiet and cowards to challenge. However when India does something you all get extra brave.

    YAMAYA Wednesday, 13 April 2016 09:50 AM

    YAHAPALANA mega robbery, where is those NGO roughes ?

    Rik Rock Wednesday, 13 April 2016 03:02 PM

    This company doesn't have enough experience in the region. I wonder how this project can be awarded without any qualification.....

    BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 13 April 2016 02:45 PM

    Please ensure that these houses are gifted to civilians mainly Tamils who have faced untold misery in this conflict. Please ensure these houses do not go to Soldiers who are getting enough and more pampering from the State.

    Aluth Avurudu Wednesday, 13 April 2016 01:27 PM

    While commenting on this effort by the Hon Minister for this House construction, I would like to extend my BEST WISHES to the Management

    Ramsay Wednesday, 13 April 2016 01:26 PM

    Yahapalana is fantastic for north and westerners countries

    Sutharman Wednesday, 13 April 2016 12:43 PM

    Please start as early as possible, even i also one applicant waiting ...Don't take any words from TNA or Vigneswaran , they don't want people to get anything because their politics remains as long as people suffer.

    Dutugamnu1 Wednesday, 13 April 2016 12:34 PM

    How can we expect to develop this country when our politicians have no faith in our construction companies .Why not consider giving at least 50% to local companies and there are enough local experts to check the quality.I wonder whether this is the real reason or there is a hidden agenda.

    Real Peace Wednesday, 13 April 2016 11:14 AM

    65,000 ovens will be built and people will be roasted alive in these ovens in this weather! Thank you Sillynathan!!

    samurai Wednesday, 13 April 2016 10:29 AM

    Construction of a house over 100 sq mtrs as given prefab will cost only 5000-6000 USD maximum. If any body who wish to give the whole lot or part of said 60000 houses, please contact the email address

    RD Wednesday, 13 April 2016 10:27 AM

    Arcelor Mittal is a steel and mining company which has no prior experience in building construction works. Why would the Minister think a steel company would do a better job than a reputable construction company?


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