The Government has drawn several projects to help tsunami victims and raise the living standards of the people below the poverty line, writes Mohammed Naalir, Daily News, Colombo 041006 at http://www.dailynews.lk/. Forwarded by Budhi Mulyawan 061006.

Addressing the media Housing Ministry Secretary Malacca Karunarathne pointed out that the projects will function as short term, and long term plans.

Under the short term plan, measures would be taken to improve the condition of the houses and also construct new houses. Loans would be given at low interest through Sanasa, rural banks and the Samurdhi Authority. The long term development projects would be launched at provincial council level, she said.

At the press conference at the UN Conference Room on Monday she said assistance of Local Authorities was vital in launching development projects specially in tsunami-affected areas.

"The Government has launched resettlement programmes with the assistance of donor countries. They are progressing," she added.

According to statistics tabled at the press conference, out of the Moneragala district population is about 296,351 more than 30.75 per cent live below the poverty line. The percentage of poverty in the Colombo district is six per cent. In 30 years most people will be living in the urban areas and urbanisation is the way for development. More than 60 per cent in the rural areas live below the poverty line. Cities are the places where the poverty percentage is less, UN-Habitat Regional Advisor Disa Weerapana said.

The Regional Advisor pointed out that the world was witnessing great immigration into towns and cities. "One third of the world will live in cities and it will be doubled in the future".

The Master Plan for Colombo (1978-1983), assisting the million Houses Programme (1984-1988), Million and a half Houses Programme (1989-1993) and the Sustainable Cities Programme (1990) are still in operation. The Community Infrastructure and Shelter Rebuilding in tsunami-affected areas are among them, it was revealed.

UN Habit Programme Manager for Sri Lanka, Conrad De Tissera and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Lakshman Perera were also present.

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