Colombo, 10 June, (Asiantribune.com): The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to continue the payment of a five thousand rupee allowance to tsunami displaced families.
Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, P.B. Jayasundera revealed this at a meeting held at the Galle district secretariat on Thursday .
It was also decided to release 250 thousand rupee housing loan from state banks to the displaced families if they decide to rebuild their houses beyond the one hundred meter buffer zone.
The families who have received housing loans from NGOs are also entitled to this loan scheme. Mr. Jayasundera also added that tsunami relief programmes will be carried out uninterrupted for three years.
However, in last three months, the distribution of aid, housing loans for the tsunami victims were disrupted due to the legal barriers in southern Sri Lanka.
Tsunami victims in the Galle district alleged that the government and or other relevant authorities have yet to attend to their needs even after five months of the tsunami disaster.
Their main concern is to get permanent houses. They are still living in the dilapidated tents. “In rainy days we can’t live in these tents,’ said the victims, who are still living way below the poverty line.
- Asian Tribune -
