Big vote catcher in Mannar: Saudi-funded housing schemes

Driving through the main roads of Mannar to Thalaimannar pier you pass through dozens of housing schemes which have been completed, but most of them remain unoccupied.

“That’s not an issue” says Nagoor Ghani (60), a businessman in the area pointing out that most of them currently live in Puttalam and will return in time to vote.

In 1990, a large number of Muslims were displaced due to the fighting in the region. This was after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) captured their villages. They were forced to flee to the adjoining Puttalam district where they lived for nearly two decades.

But, since the end of the war, most of them, largely helped by Minister Rishad Bathiudeen who has put up housing schemes with foreign funding have returned and registered as voters in Mannar.

More housing schemes are coming up with Saudi Arabian funding in the area with promises that more houses will be built. The Sunday Times reporters saw a large number of such empty houses which had plaques in Arabic marking them as having been built by various Islamic charities and benefactors. One such housing scheme even had a prominent signboard proclaiming it as “Rishad City.”

The projects will attract votes in favour of NDF candidate Sajith Premadasa backed by Minister Bathiudeen but has created a disparity regarding distribution of houses for the Tamil community in the area.

The housing facilities offered for those supportive of Mr Bathiudeen appeared to favour the NDF candidate while the TNA also has a share of the Tamil votes in the area and their decision will have an influence on the voters.