The
government of Federal Republic of German will assist to
build capacity of the government institutions of Sri Lanka
in charge of Tsunami reconstruction programme until June
2008.
On behalf of the
German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and
Development (BMZ), the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ)
assisted Tsunami Housing Support Project (THSP) will
implement this programme at a cost of Euro 04 Million
(approximately Rs. 536000000/-).
The
implementation agreement on building the capacity of the
government institutions in charge of Tsunami housing
reconstruction was signed at the Ministry of Housing &
Construction today (24th May).
On behalf of the
government of Sri Lanka, Secretary to the Ministry of
Housing & Construction Mr. P.Weerahandi signed this
agreement and on behalf of the GTZ, the GTZ Country Director
Dr. Roland Steurer signed this agreement.
The
goal of the project is to build the capacity of the
governmental institutions in charge of tsunami housing
reconstruction. In this context, capacity building stands
for quality improvement of technical and soft skills such as
construction and planning as well as communication,
coordination and management techniques. The ultimate goal
is to implement the reconstruction process effectively with
the participation of Tsunami affected people. Key persons
within Government institutions will be trained in housing
reconstruction techniques until June 2008.
Though this
capacity building program, GTZ contributes to a sustainable
reconstruction process by supporting the improvement of
quality standards in the housing sector. Besides the
Ministry of Housing & Construction, the principal partner of
THSP, the Ministry of Urban Development & Water Supply,
Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), National
Housing Development Authority (NHDA) and Urban Development
Authority (UDA) actively participate in this project.
On this occasion,
Secretary to the Ministry of Housing & Construction, Mr.
P.Weerahandi said “Though this project and with German
support, Sri Lanka is gaining experience from other
countries. Community participation is an approach which has
very strong roots in Sri Lanka and must be implemented more
efficiently in the field of housing reconstruction in the
future”.
Mr.
Andreas Hartmann, Councilor of the German Embassy said “The
Sri Lankan Government and conflict-relevant parties should
make efforts to foster a conducive environment to build back
better in Sri Lanka. Housing regulation is just one crucial
aspect. Another one is the over all panning process and the
difficult task to bring the reconstruction work into the
context of a integrated planning of living areas, villages
and cities – including and being driven essentially by the
views and needs of the victims and all other relevant
stakeholders.
This is what this
project is standing for and I am proud that GTZ through
German government funding is addressing these essential
planning issues together with the Sri Lankan
Administration.”
The GTZ Country
Director Dr. Roland Steurer, Senior Advisor of GTZ Mrs.
Hilke Ebert also spoke at this function. Chairman of NHDA
Mr. Mohamed Rafeek, Additional Secretaries of Ministry of
Housing & Construction Mr. U.A.Seneviratne and Mr.
S.R.Kanaganayagam and other senior officials in the Housing
Ministry and relevant agencies implementing the Tsunami
Housing Project participated in this function.
24th May 2006.
