EU hands over newly built houses, irrigation channels in Batticaloa District
Saturday, 28 June 2014 00:17
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The Head of Operations of the European Union (EU) to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Willy Vandenberghe visited the conflict affected village of Welikakandiya in Batticaloa District in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province on 24 June 2014. During his visit, Vandenberghe handed over newly constructed houses to returnee families who like many have been in the process of rebuilding their homes through the support provided by the Housing Recovery Program, an initiative funded by the EU in partnership with the Government of Australia and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. In line with the Government of Sri Lanka’s policy, the project, with an EU support of EUR 12 million and implemented by UN-HABITAT, has succeeded in employing a ‘home owner driven’ process of reconstruction i.e. the beneficiaries have contributed with their own labour, time and resources. This participatory process has empowered families to take charge of their own reconstruction and recovery.
Also inaugurated on the same day were irrigation channels that will serve over 300 resettled families in the same village of Welikakandiya in Batticaloa district. Implemented by the EU partner ZOA, the project worth EUR 2.9 million for both Northern and the Eastern Sri Lanka, falls under the EU-Socio Economic Measures programme which has a total budget of EUR 16 million (2011-2014).
Speaking on the occasion, Vandenberghe said, “I take great pride in saying that in the ten years between 2005-2015, the EU would have assisted in the reconstruction of 20,000 houses in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka. The EU’s contribution to housing of over LKR 8.5 billion (EUR 50 million), stemming from the EU ‘Aid to Uprooted People’ Program, shows its commitment to improving the lives of the vulnerable and also reflects its long-term partnership with Sri Lanka. Also, today with the opening of the irrigation channels, the productivity of land would increase many folds. Efficient use of water remains high on the agenda and I extend my sincere thanks to the government officials, beneficiaries and the implementing partners who have worked selflessly to make this possible.”
Willy Vandenberghe with the new house owners in Welikakandiya
