India, which is funding the construction of 50,000 houses for internally-displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka, may offer a line of credit, this time for building houses in lands released by the Army from the high security zones.
Indicating this, D.M. Swaminathan, Sri Lankan Minister for Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs, said the matter was discussed during his recent meeting with Sujatha Mehta, Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
He immediately sounded his President Maithripala Sirisena about the possibility of getting financial assistance from India. A formal letter has also been sent to the Indian High Commission.
It is learnt that approximately, 52,000 houses are required to be constructed in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, where Tamils live in large numbers.
Explaining how U.N. agencies are providing help for those who want to start their lives afresh in the released lands, the Minister said his Ministry had released an amount of Rs 24 million (Sri Lankan Rupee) to take care of immediate requirements of the people.
Regarding the case of Varuthuthalaivilan where people are not able to use their properties fully as portions of their lands are with the Army, Mr. Swaminathan acknowledges this problem and says his Ministry is making efforts to resolve such issues.
