China to build 40,000 houses in North & East

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Ministry of Resettlement says the cabinet has approved a proposal to grant the contract for a housing project in the North and the East to a Chinese Company. When inquired the Secretary to the Ministry of Resettlement stated the contract to build 40,000 houses has been awarded to China Railway Beijing to be conducted together with a local company. The company has agreed to complete the project within two years. The secretary added that there is a requirement of over 160,000 houses for the people who have been affected by the war and that the agreement was reached with a Chinese company to provide these houses as soon as possible. Minister of Housing and Construction, Sajith Premadasa speaking to News1st stated that the responsibility of constructing 40 000 houses in the North and East has been vested with Minister D.M Swaminathan and that he would be responsible for monitoring the project. The Minister added that through the provisions of the central government, his ministry has already initiated the construction of several "Uda Gammana" in both the Northern Province and the Eastern Province.