His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday commended the Government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for the measures taken to resolve the issues of the families affected by the Easter Sunday attack and to provide relief to them.
Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith also said the Government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would have the strength, courage and the blessings not to allow any repetition of such a tragic attack.
The Cardinal made these comments at a meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday morning to discuss the further renovation programmes of the churches damaged in the Easter Sunday attacks.
During the meeting the Premier instructed the State Engineering Corporation to recommence and expedite the construction work on 24 houses that are being built at Katuwapitiya area for the affected families. Another five houses are to be constructed for five affected families who have land of their own at Katuwapitiya by the Urban Development Authority.
The Premier also instructed the officers to allocate 33 houses from proposed housing apartments for 33 families living around Colombo in rented out houses. In addition it was decided during the meeting to provide housing facilities to affected 11 families from Kandy and Badulla in their respective areas. The Prime Minister also instructed the Health Services Director General to expand and extend the health facilities provided to the affected persons at the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital.
The Prime Minister further instructed to recommence the construction of the Katuwapitiya Dhamma School with Rs 60 million out of the funds of the Finance Ministry. During the meeting it was revealed that although the previous Good Governance Government promised to construct the Kochchikade Church that was damaged in the series of Easter Sunday attacks in a different design, it was not done. The Premier instructed to provide funds to the Sri Lanka Navy as it had been earlier planned before 2015 and complete the renovation of the Kochchikade Church.
“The previous Good Governance Government was only good at making pledges,” Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa said. “But we are good at doing what is needed and correct.” The Premier also instructed the Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle to discuss with the private banks as to what facilities that they could provide to their debtors who are unable to settle the loans as a result of being victims of Easter Sunday attack.
Cardinal Ranjith appreciated the Government for taking measures to resolve the issues of those affected by the Easter Sunday attacks. He extended thanks to the Minister as as well as the State Ministers involved in these efforts to provide relief to the affected.
