The Veddha community had proved that permanent houses could be established with small financial assistance from the government, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff said recently.

Attending a ceremonial handing over of newly built houses to the Veddha community at Hennanigala, Dehiattakandiya in Ampara, Minister Ferial Ashraff said that the main objective of the Janasevana National Housing Programme implemented under the Mahinda Chinthana policy was to help each and every family own a house. Under the Jana Sevana Housing Programme, a special project, called Gallenen Niwahanata (From cave to house) had been initiated to provide permanent shelter to Veddha community, who used to live in caves.

The programme had been implemented by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) and Rs. 50,000 granted to each Veddha family to build a house by using its own labour under guidance from NHDA.

The leader of the Veddha community of Hennanigala, Uruwarige Kalubanda said it was a very important day for the Veddha community of Hennanigala, who had shifted to that area in response to a request from Minister of Mahaweli Development, the late Mr. Gamini Dissanayake. Their ancestors had not been interested in permanent housing but the present generation had felt the need for it due to changes the community had undergone over the past several decades.