First stage of Sampur (Sri Lanka) Housing Project completed with the support of Tamil Canadians.
In 2006, thousands of Tamils were forced to flee their homes in Sampur village due to the war. In August 2015, the new Sri Lankan government released 818 acres of land in Sampur to its original owners. Though 367 families got their land back, their houses were completely destroyed during the war. Out of these 367 families, 41 families were women headed families.
Canadian Tamil Congress with the support of Trincomalee Welfare Association (Canada) committed to build temporary houses for these 41 women headed families. A little over $100,000 was raised through the Tamil Canadian Walk-a-thon for the Sampur housing project which was held on September 13th 2015.
Though there has been some delays in construction due to heavy rain fall leading to flooding in the last several months in Sri Lanka, the first stage of constructing 18 houses has been completed. These 18 houses were handed over to its owners officially on March 25th 2016.
On March 18th 2016, a religious ceremony was held by the house owners. Two Tamil Canadian representatives participated in this ceremony.
The official handing over ceremony was a public event on March 25th 2016 presided over by TNA Leader and Opposition Leader of Sri Lanka Hon. R. Sampanthan who is also the local member of parliament for Sampur, Trincomalee. Sri Lankan government Minister for Resettlement Hon. D.M. Swaminathan, Governor of Eastern Province Hon. Austin Fernando, Chief Minister of Eastern Province Hon. Z.A. Nazeer Ahamed, Trincomalee MP Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee Government Agent S. Pushpakumara, Eastern Provincial Education and Resettlement Minister S. Thandauthapani, Eastern Province Agriculture Minister K. Thurairajasingham and many other Eastern Provincial Council Minsters and Councillors also participated in this event.
177 acres of land occupied by the Sri Lankan Navy in Sampur was released later on the same day.
The balance 23 houses out of the 41 houses committed will be built in second stage soon.
| Sponsor of the 18 Houses in the First Stage | Name of Beneficiaries |
| Senior Tamil Centre of Ontario |
Vimalan Pushparani V.Kemashantha |
| Dr. Yarlini Karunanithy |
Krishnakumar Jeevarajani K.Vaishalini |
| Hartley College Past Pupils (Canada) |
Marimuththu Sellamma S.Sulakshana |
| St. Johns’College 87-91 Toronto |
Kumarasamy Analedsumi Kirujana Premalatha |
| Minnal Senthikumaran |
Nagalingam Parvathippillai Kalidevi Shathushan Sumalatha |
| Dynevor Express | Nagarajah Poomani |
| Ilankai Kannan Family & Friends | Sayanthan Parimala S.Kirushika |
| Mr & Mrs Pathinathar |
Thampaiya Yogamma Karishka Mithishan |
| Kalvi Connections | Marimuththu Kanagamma Nageswary |
| Serendib Paint and Decor |
Thavarajah Suneswary T.Thavajenthan Thavajenthini |
| Delta Academy Parents Association |
Santhiramohan Jeyashanthi 1 girl child -7 years old |
| Canadian Tamil Medical Association(CTMA) | Kamalapoosanadavi |
| Rajendran Family (Manipay) | Selathurai Pakkiyam S.Ramamorthy S.Sulakshi |
| Old Students (Canada) Kokuvil Hindu College | Siththiravel Kannakai |
| Thenvarajah Rabimohan family |
Megendran Nagapakkiyam Thuvaragan Sopiga |
| Arya Canada Inc. |
Poopalapillai Sarosanayagi Shanjega Shathurshan |
| Dr. Geetha Jayarajah |
S.Marimuthu S.Abishini S.Nilugshan |
| Rose Jeyaratnam Family & Friends | Visuvaiya Vallinayakam Depend on her daughter Daughter has 2 children |
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