Resettlers should safeguard their newly won freedom – Muralidaran

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Resettlers should safeguard their newly won freedom – MuralidaranNovember 16, 2010, 9:59 pm
By Franklin R.Satyapalan
It was the responsibility of those resettled, both adults and children, to safeguard the newly won freedom with great sacrifices made by many, Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamoorthy Muralidaran said at a meeting held to felicitate and thank the representatives of the two State banks – Bank of Ceylon and the Peoples Bank – for coming forward to fulfill their Corporate Social Responsibility by helping the newly resettled people of Unnichi in the Batticaloa District. The meeting was held at the Unnichi Mixed Tamil school, last week .
The management and representatives of the two State banks had provided Rs. three million each to reconstruct 190 fully equipped dwellings. The banks have also donated 680 plastic chairs, 172 plastic tables and 40 heads of milch cows to be distributed amongst the 172 families and also schoolbags and 2,000 exercise books amongst 360 children.
The Deputy Minister said: "I would be failing in my duty if I failed to thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government for making it possible for all displaced families to be resettled and also for the assistance given to restart their livelihood.
He also thanked Basil Rajapaksa, Minister for Economic Development and the Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal for coming forward to advise the two State banks to provide Rs. 29 million as a soft loan to be distributed among 310 newly resettled families to enable them to recommence their livelihood.
The loans were granted with a period of grace for repayment after the re -commencement of their livelihood in agriculture, fisheries, dairy farming and self employment projects.