A delegation from Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has participated in foundation stone-laying ceremonies for two housing projects in Mannar district, northern Sri Lanka, for families displaced by local armed conflicts.
The project will cost QR3.1mn ($849,315), which has been donated by two Qatari sisters who opted for anonymity.
QRC was represented by Ahmed al-Khulaifi, head of Public Relations, in the presence of Rishad Badiuddin, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Trade and Commerce, Hussain Mohamed al-Kubaisi, first secretary at the Qatari embassy in Sri Lanka, representatives of Sri Lanka Red Cross and Serendib Foundation for Relief and Development (SFRD), and local community leaders.
The guests also undertook a field tour of the project sites before leaving for Colombo.
The first project involves building 70 family housing units for 460 people from the poorest families in Kondachi, Musali division. It also involves constructing and furnishing four shops, a school and a prayer centre as well as digging two artisan wells equipped with a 4,000-litre water tank and a solar-powered pump.
The second project involves building 44 family housing units for 264 people in the village of Erukkalampiddy, in addition to two fully-furnished shops.
The projects will be executed in partnership with SFRD, which also conducted a field survey to identify beneficiaries of the projects.
Earlier, a QRC assessment and inspection team visited the location and selected the housing design based on an already completed housing project that proved practical and comfortable for the inhabitants.
The Sri Lankan government contributed the land plot on which the houses would be constructed.
Planned to be completed and handed over in 12 months, the housing units will be in compliance with international and environmental standards.
The components and material for execution will be bought from the local market and execution will be done by local labour. This will create more job opportunities and improve the economic conditions of the local community, thereby further serving the developmental and humanitarian purposes of the projects.
Officials and dignitaries unveil a plaque.
