Government has approved an increase in the compensation for loss of life due to disasters, from 250,000 to 1 million rupees.
A special press conference was conducted on January 21 at the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), to inform the public about the disaster situation caused by severe weather conditions affecting the island.
During the conference, the Deputy Minister mentioned that, according to available information 19,032 individuals from 5,821 families across 127 Divisional Secretary Divisions in 18 districts, have been displaced due to the disaster. These people are currently sheltered in 17 relief centres, where efforts are underway to provide necessary infrastructure along with dry rations and cooked food. The disasters have resulted in two fatalities,10 houses completely damaged, 438 houses partially damage, 25 small and medium-scale business destroyed, and significant damage to two important infrastructures.
Following the directives of the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake related agencies including the Disaster Management Centre, National Disaster Relief Service Centre, National Building Research Organization, Department of Meteorology and the Ministry of Defence are coordinating efforts are underway to provide round-the-clock relief to affected communities. District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, state officials, tri-forces, Sri Lanka Police, Civil Defence Department and other relief organizations are all actively involved relief activities. Additionally, as many tanks and irrigation channels remain at overflow levels, work to reinforce vulnerable embankments is also being conducted under the guidance of irrigation engineers.
Under the directives of the President and the government, 30 million rupees have been allocated for disaster relief services. Arrangements have been made to provide daily food ration allowances for those displaced with 1,800 rupees per person, in addition with Rs. 2,400, Rs.2,800, Rs.3,200, and Rs. 3,600 rupees based on the family size. The government has also approved the increase of compensation for loss of life from 250,000 rupees to 1 million rupees.
The Deputy Minister also stated that according to the Meteorological Department’s forecasts, this adverse weather condition will subside in the coming days. He revealed that the media and social media awareness campaigns based on the forecasts made regarding this situation have helped to minimize the risks and damages of landslides and floods. He thanked the media institutions and the public for acting according to such instructions.
The Minister emphasized and said that the state mechanism for disaster preparedness is already in place and that relevant state institutions including disaster relief teams are responsible for the successful implementation of that process. He also said that the general public should take steps to minimize the possible damages by adhering to the government’s instructions and warnings.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Director General of the Department of Meteorology and officials representing Disaster Management Centre, National Disaster Relief Services Centre, National Building Research Organization, Department of Meteorology, Ministry of Defence and tri-forces were also present at the media briefing.
