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Life returning to normal in flooded areas

by Rashomi Silva

Life in the flood affected areas is gradually returning to normal with flood waters receding and increasing contact with the displaced victims, the Prime Minister's representative in the Disaster Management Committee, Power and Energy minister Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo Minister Jayasuriya said: "We have been able to bring life back to normality in the flood affected areas in a much shorter spell than expected." "The biggest challenge now before us is resettling the displaced families," Jayasuriya said.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet decided to allocate 20 perches land to each displaced family whose houses were damaged by the earthslips and who are residing in areas identified as prone to earth slips.

"We will have to introduce strict laws with a human face to prevent people from residing in the earthslip affected and vulnerable areas and we will strictly enforce them. Residing in earthslip prone areas is strictly prohibited although farming and cultivation will be allowed," he explained.

The Cabinet at Wednesday's meeting has also considered the possibility of granting a fair concession for the damaged houses and household properties, Minister said.

"It will be given in two instalments by next week we might be able to give an exact figure," he said. "We have been able to provide electricity to more than 98 per cent of the affected areas through temporary measures. Permeant structures will cost heavily. We are still assessing the damage done," he added.

The Minister said that the cleaning of wells, toilets and other irrigation canals are now under way with the assistance of the security forces, International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Sri Lanka Red Cross association, and other volunteer organisations.

The Minister thanked the Deputy Minister of power and energy Sagala Ratnayake for his untiring efforts to save the lives of the flood affected.

All government schools in the flood affected areas excepts those being used as refugee camps will be re-opened on June 5, Social Welfare Minister Ravindra Samaraweera said yesterday at a media briefing held in Colombo.

"But some of the schools are in a very bad condition and they need to be reconstructed before opening therefore we have instructed to temporary enrol those students in the nearest school," the Minister said. The Ministry of Education has permitted the students of the flood affected area to attend school in casual cloths for the time being till they are provided with school uniforms. "We are trying to negotiate with Salu Sala and CWE to provide ready made uniforms. In addition we have taken steps to distribute text books and exercise books among students with help from the Probation and Childcare Department," Samaraweera observed.

The Australian government has assured their support for rehabilitating and reconstructing all schools damaged by the floods, the Minister added.

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