SLPA takes steps to facilitate workers affected by tsunami

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has taken steps to facilitate 279 of its workforce who lost belongings and properties as a result of the tsunami.

The SLPA expects to provide these facilities to its workers who were living Colombo, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ampara, Batticoloa and Trincomalee. According to the decision taken, a monthly housing rental allowance of Rs. 3,000 is to be provided for a period of six months. Dry rations worth Rs. 10,000 and another allowance of Rs. 10,000 to reconstruct damaged residences are also to be paid under the scheme to the affected SLPA workers.

Dependents of each SLPA worker who lost their life will be paid Rs. 15,000. Steps have already been taken to construct 143 houses for 143 SLPA workers whose houses were destroyed. A sum of Rs. 6 million has also been allocated for this task.

Forty SLPA workers lost their lives due to the tsunami, 25 of them from the Oluvil Port.

According to advice of Minister of Ports and Aviation Mangala Samaraweera the special committee appointed for this task will take steps to provide and distribute these facilities and allowances to all affected SLPA workers, states a SLPA press release.