Tokyo Cement Group, committed to enrich the country and its people as the partner in nation building, rose to the call to provide housing for a group of Internally Displaced Families in Trincomalee. Having identified ‘housing’ as the most critical factor that will bring back a sense of stability and purpose to this once displaced and disenchanted community, the company allocated their own land in Adampodai, Nilaveli to build homes for 25 families. The project was initiated with the objective of not just providing a roof above their heads, but to provide them with better living conditions.
Foundation for the Housing Scheme was laid on 5th May 2017 in commemoration of late Deshamanya A.Y.S. Gnanam, Founder Chairman of Tokyo Cement Group. Incumbent Chairman of Tokyo Cement, President’s Counsel Dr. Harsha Cabral presided over the ceremony which was part of a string of events to mark the late pioneer’s birth anniversary. This new housing project adjoins the Tsunami Housing Scheme built in 2009 by the Tokyo Cement Tsunami Relief Trust, for which 25 families who were affected by the tsunami received deeds from HE the President during the same commemoration event.
Less than a year later, on 21st March 2018 the new housing scheme for IDPs was declared open by Hon. R. Sampanthan MP, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament in the presence of Mr. N.A.A. Pushpakumara, Government Agent and District Secretary of Trincomalee, Dr. Harsha Cabral P.C., Chairman and Mr. Christopher Fernando, Executive Director of Tokyo Cement. The beneficiaries were chosen among hundreds of IDP families, who were living under dire circumstances for decades, by an evaluation committee headed by the GA, Divisional Secretary and local government officials.
The project was completed in just 10 months with each house costing around Rs. 2.3 Million. Each house is built on a 10-perch plot of land and is fully fledged with all basic amenities including paved roadways, a community centre and a children’s park. Upon completion, Tokyo Cement went the extra mile to make sure the newly-built, 2-bedroomed house feels like a home from day one for its occupants, by furnishing it with a bed and a wardrobe, signifying a fresh start for a community of over 100 people who had been through many hardships.
