Village Reawakening program kicks off

The first village under the relaunched Village Reawakening (Udaa-Gammanaya) program was vested with the public yesterday.

Minister of Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa declared open the Isurupura Udaa-Gammanaya built at Sampath Nuwara in Welioya.

The project pays attention to the development of livelihood without restricting benefits to the provision of houses alone.

The Village Reawakening Program was launched during the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s government in the 1980s with the principle that shelter is fundamental to people’s physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. However, the program was halted in mid 1990s following his demise.

The cabinet of ministers last month granted approval to Minister Premadasa to relaunch the program after 21 years.

The houses are constructed on a plot of land granted by the government and through a loan provided with a concessionary rate of interest.