News

TN CM Stalin inaugurates distribution of free houses to SL Tamils

Published

1 year ago

September 18, 2023

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Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on September 17 virtually inaugurated the distribution of free houses to 1,591 Sri Lankan Tamils in the State in the first phase of the free housing scheme at a function the Sri Lankan Rehabilitation Camp in Melmanavoor village in Vellore.

Accompanied by senior ministers including Duraimurugan and I. Periyasamy, Ministers for Water Resources and Rural Development respectively, Mr. Stalin gave keys of the new houses to five beneficiaries at the rehabilitation camp in Vellore on Sunday as a mark of the event.

He also spoke to beneficiaries including one Sri Lankan Tamil from Salem district through videoconferencing, inquiring about her experience in moving into a new free house provided by the State government. “Now, you [beneficiaries] have got your new house. However, you all should take care of your new house well. That is important,” he told her.

Beneficiaries from 19 rehabilitation camps in 13 districts were visibly happy when they shared their experiences virtually to Mr. Stalin on how they spent many sleepless nights under damaged roofed-houses all these years and how they are happy that they are moving into well-lit concrete-roofed houses. During his interaction with the beneficiaries, Mr. Stalin also asked about their family, especially children, what they study and how many years they stay in the camp.

At present, 19,498 Sri Lankan Tamil families are residing at 104 rehabilitation camps in 29 districts in the State. Under the free housing scheme for Sri Lankan Tamils, 7,469 houses will be built at a cost of ₹342 crore by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) in phases.

In the first phase of the scheme, 3,510 houses at a cost of ₹176.02 crore were built. The first phase of the scheme was launched by Mr. Stalin at a function in Vellore in November 2021. The beneficiaries are residents in 35 camps, covering 20 districts in the State.

Of 3,510 houses in the first phase, 1,591 houses that were built at a cost ₹79.70 crore and were handed over to beneficiaries in 19 camps of 13 districts on Sunday. Among the beneficiaries in the first phase on Sunday, Erode topped with 420 houses (₹21 crore), followed by Vellore (220 houses; ₹11 crore) and Salem (109 houses; ₹13.22 crore).

Under the project, each house, which is 300 sq.ft, has a living room, bedroom with attached washroom and a kitchen. The new house also has free water connection and power supply. In addition, Over Head Tanks (OHTs) are also built in the camps. Each house costs ₹5.85 lakh for the State exchequer. Each camp also gets a community centre, a common children centre for reading and tuition purposes and a fair price shop.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Stalin paid floral tributes to the statue of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, founder of Dravidian movement, in Vellore town to mark his 145th birth anniversary celebrations.

(thehindu.com)

News

Fmr. minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa arrested

Published

3 hours ago

January 22, 2025

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Former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

According to the Police Media Spokesperson, he has been arrested for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 6.1 million in flood relief aid in 2014.

News

A country can’t progress through laws & regulations alone – President

Published

3 hours ago

January 22, 2025

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President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that a country cannot progress solely through laws and regulations and highlighted that tradition is a vital component of a nation.

President Disanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka has accomplished a remarkable mission through the traditions built on Buddhism and that it is the responsibility of everyone to safeguard these Buddhist traditions and pass them down securely to future generations.

The President expressed these views during a discussion held today (22) at the Presidential Secretariat on the 74th Upasampada Vinaya Karma’ ceremony of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya.

The President, recalling the historical significance of the Upasampada Vinaya Karma, a major ceremony in Buddhism, stated that the cessation of ordained monks (Upasampada Bhikkhus) would mean the dissolution of the Buddhist institution itself. He emphasized the importance of preserving these ancient traditions and carrying them forward with honour.

The national Upasampada Vinaya Karma ceremony, organized biennially by the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya, is scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 5, 2025, at the Punyawardhanarama Viharaya in Vijithapura, Palugaswewa, within the Udakukkhepa Sima Malakaya.
This grand ceremony, which will ordain over 250 novice monks (Samanera), will be conducted under state sponsorship.

As the government considers the national Upasampada Vinaya Karma ceremony, which is held every two years, a dignified task, the President instructed officials to ensure that all necessary facilities are provided without any shortcomings.

The discussion was attended by prominent figures, including the Most Venerable Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero, the highest prelate of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya of the Sangha ancestry of Mahavihara; Most Venerable Professor Aththangane Rathanapala Nayaka Thero, Supreme Judicial Leader of Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya; the Anu Nayaka Theros, Most Venerable Waleboda Gunasiri Thero and Most Venerable Ankumbure Premavansa Thero; along with the Maha Sangha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath; Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage; former High Court Justice and Governor of the North Central Province Wasantha Kumara Wimalasiri; Chairman of the Rāmañña Nikayarakshaka Sabha and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya; Secretary of the Rāmañña Nikayarakshaka Sabha and former Member of Parliament Lasantha Alagiyawanna, among others.

(President’s Media Division)

News

Women MPs’ caucus discuss on setting common minimum age for marriage

Published

3 hours ago

January 22, 2025

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The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka, chaired by Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, has discussed several legislative reforms, including a proposal to establish a common legal minimum age for marriage across all communities of the country.

Meeting on Jan. 21, the caucus had discussed the need to amend existing marriage laws as well as to correctly define a “child” in alignment with international standards to enhance child protection. efforts in Sri Lanka.