A Caritas Belgium home building program near Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka is enabling displaced landless Hindu families return to their traditional home regions.

Caritas officials have cleared a jungle and are now carrying building materials along dirt roads to build 45 houses at a cost of 19 million rupees (US$170,000) said Samithamby Oliver Jeyanandan, coordinator of Caritas Batticaloa.

A Caritas Belgium team has visited the four remote jungle villages of Ilukkupothaanai, Muththankumaraveli, Vilaanthottamin and Eralakulam, 56 kilometers northwest of Batticaloa, to inspect the project.

Kanthiah Sinnapa, a Hindu firewood cutter and father of nine, along with 80 other families were forced to flee the area in 2007 after fighting broke out between Tamil rebels and Sri Lankan government forces.

State forces took full control of the jungles and villages in the east the same year and resettled some people while other families remained displaced.

Most of these displaced people were landless Hindus from jungle areas who depended on hunting, selling firewood and herding. They faced great difficulties as displaced people in refugee towns.

Three months after being resettled, the people are already showing their gratitude.

“It is a paradise compared to town. I am a hero for my nine children,” said Sinnapa.

With his seven boys and two girls, Sinnapa rises at dawn each day to fetch water and help the house builders.

Yogarajah Vallipillai, a mother of five who lost her husband in the war, received a new house and a loan to purchase goats from the Church agencies.

“Surely my husband will be happy and thankful to you (Caritas) for the hope you give me,” she said.

Father Sritharan Sylvester, head of Caritas Batticaloa, said the completion of the houses was urgent so that people could develop the local economy, focus on educating their children and establish sustainable independent lives for their families.

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