Locals in Mullaitivu are unable to complete construction of their homes due to non-payment of a housing project loan scheme offered by the previous government party.
2,211 families affected by floods in the Mullaitivu district in 2018 were selected for housing schemes provided by Sajith Premadasa, a former presidential candidate and leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
Six divisional secretariat divisions in the Mullaitivu district including Manthai East Thunukkai, Oddusuddan, Karaithuraipattru, Welioya were to provide housing projects worth 7 and a half thousand rupees for each of the families selected. However, only two and a half thousand rupees have been provided per family so far.
Many locals chosen for the housing scheme have abandoned the construction of their houses that were underway. Some of the impacted families that had obtained loans from banks and private companies in order to continue the constructions are now facing hardships as they are unable to repay the loans.
Only 428 million rupees were released at the time for the project which requires 1,589 million rupees; the rest of the funds have not been released as of yet.
Last month, an 8 year old boy was killed in Kilinochchi when the wall of his temporary house collapsed due to flood water accumulation. Following which, the locals had demanded that action be taken to provide the money to build permanent houses in the region.
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