Mar 15, Colombo: Sixty-one families who were displaced by the construction of Sri Lanka's first coal power plant at Norochcholai in northwestern Sri Lanka were recently resettled in a new housing scheme 15 kilometres away.

Eighty-one houses are being constructed to resettle the families, who earlier dwelled in the 250 acres of land taken over by the government to build the power plant.

The settlers expect a bus service from their new housing scheme to the main road and improvements to the school close to the settlement.

The government said the settlers would be allocated 300 perches of land for cultivation. Rs. 15,000 would be provided as compensation when they settle in their new houses and a Rs. 5000 allowance will be paid until they settle down economically.