Rs. 6.3m for flood victims

Arrangements have been made to provide relief through Government Agents to flood victims, Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said.

Some 18,082 families comprising 76,760 persons have been affected in Kalutara, Gampaha, Matara, Galle, and Puttalam Districts.

An allocation of Rs. 6.3 million has already been made by the Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry to be given to the District Secretaries. Rs. 300, 000 for Kalutara, Rs. 2 million for Gampaha, Rs. 1 million for Matara, Rs. 1 million for Galle and Rs. 2 million for Puttalam District has been given.

A total of 145 families consisting of 542 persons have been affected by floods in the Divisional Secretariat areas of Dodangoda, Walalaawita, Bulathsinhala, Bandaragama, Horana and Milleniya in the Kalutara District while 14,105 families consisting of 61,095 persons have been affected by floods in the Divisional Secretariat areas of Aththanagalla, Gampaha, Katana, Negombo and Wattala in the Gampaha District.

A total of 389 families consisting of 1,360 persons have been affected by floods in the Divisional Secretariat areas of Mulatiyana, Akuressa, Thihagoda, Matara, Welipitiya, Kirinda, Dickwella and Devinuwara in the Matara district while 690 families consisting of 2,790 persons have been affected by floods in the Divisional Secretariat areas of Niyagama, Yakkalamulla and Karandeniya in the Galle District.

A total of 2,753 families consisting of 10,973 persons have been affected by floods in the Divisional Secretariat areas of Karuwalagaswewa, Puttalam, and Mahawewa in the Puttalam District.

“As a result of the rainy weather followed by floods, 16 houses have been completely damaged and 68 houses partially damaged. The Disaster Relief Center is monitoring the situation and is operational round the clock and is on stand by to provide emergency relief,” Minister Bathiudeen said.

He instructed Government Agents to take immediate action to clear areas inundated with rain water by releasing the water in low lying areas if necessary making use of backhoe machines.

Committee to monitor floods in Colombo

Shirley WIJESINGHE

A steering committee is functioning in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to monitor flash floods in the city, CMC Commissioner Badrani Jayawardane told the Daily News yesterday.

The committee was set up considering global climatic changes, Jayawardane said.

The main objective is to minimise the loss of lives and damage of property, Jayawardane added.

Chief Fire Officer J. Kannangara will head the committee and five departmental heads will act as committee members.

Committee members represent the Sports and Recreation, Drainage, Environment and Public Health Department.

The Fire-Chief has personally been asked to attend to monitor and record the flood levels due to the heavy rains in certain places, Commissioner Jayawardane said.

“About Rs.300 million is needed to mitigate flash floods in Colombo city at a sustainable level,” she said.