• Housing and Construction Min. to supplement the district level land holdings 
• Understaffed NBRO emergency in landslide risk unit seeks volunteer assistance for disaster sites clearance work

The Housing, Construction and Water Supply Ministry stated the majority of lands donated to the Government’s proposed housing schemes for the displaced from the floods and landslides has come from the regions of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. Donations have also been received from Colombo suburbs and other areas.

Deputy subject Minister T.B. Sarath told The Daily Morning that “donations are being channeled through Ministers, around 20 acres have been donated through me," he claimed. "We will be having a meeting with all Parliamentarians to evaluate the overall donations. Before any construction of multi-storey housing complexes can begin, the Government will conduct necessary estimations to determine if the donated lands are safe for settlements,' he added. 

When queried as to whether the current and anticipated donations would be sufficient for all those needing relocation, Sarath admitted that it would not be enough. He added however that the Government intends to utilise its own land holdings in every District to supplement the donated properties.

Meanwhile, the severely understaffed Emergency in Landslide Risk Unit of the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has sought the assistance of volunteers to support clearance work at several sites affected by the recent floods and landslides. According to the NBRO authorities who spoke to The Daily Morning on the condition of anonymity, they have requested help from university students, academics, former NBRO officers who have retired, as well as those who have resigned from the institution, to bolster operations at this critical juncture. One of their own officers has already commenced work with the support of these volunteers.