Sri Lanka: Building a bright future in Batticaloa

Proud homeowners stand outside their brightly colored houses in Thetativu, Batticaloa District. The rows of bright blue, orange, green and pink houses stand out in sharp contrast to the stark, almost barren landscape, yet they mark a return to normalcy for families whose homes, livelihoods and financial capital were destroyed in the tsunami.

Economic development has accompanied the construction of the community. In some of the homes rooms have been converted into grocery shops, while one resident has set up a bicycle repair business in his front yard. Most families have started home-gardens for growing vegetables.

The 86 houses built in Thetativu have been constructed under the "Community Recovery and Reconstruction Partnership" - the owner-driven housing programme initiated by the Red Cross Red Crescent over three years ago to help families rebuild after the tsunami.

The Red Cross Red Crescent has pledged 28.8 million Swiss francs to the community recovery and reconstruction partnership. To date, 4,000 houses in Kalutara, Jaffna, Ampara and south Batticaloa have been completed, while 1,450 houses in Vaharai and Echilampattu in northern Batticaloa will be finished within the next month. Read more ...