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Tsunami cement at special price
By Sachitra Mahendra
A bag of cement now sold at Rs. 500 will be sold at a special price from mid June for post-tsunami construction, an Urban Development Authority official of the Tsunami Housing Reconstruction Unit said.

The official, Chandra Perera said a bag would be sold at Rs. 450 within Colombo and Rs. 460 outside Colombo. He said the price would remain stable till the end of this year provided there was no change in tax rates.

He said the bags would be sold on a coupon basis, issued by THRU divisions in each District Secretariat and a coupon holder would be entitled to buy 50 bags of cement at the discounted rate. He said priority would be given to individuals who are able to construct houses themselves. The companies would have to enter into an agreement with the UDA to be eligible to obtain a coupon. The coupons are being printed, Mr. Perera said.

A counterfoil would be kept at each THRU division on the possession of coupons to supervise any misuse of the cement. "We will keep the date of obtaining the coupon and compare the date when issuing the next coupon. The original coupon will be sent to the respective company. We will also maintain data of the building for which the cement is purchased," Mr. Perera said.

He added that a label "not for resale" would be stuck on the pack as a precautionary move. The companies sponsoring this scheme include Holcim, La Farge, Ambuja, ICT and Ultra Tech.

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