Rs 12.5m for flood affected

Disna Mudalige and Chaminda Perera

The Government on directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already granted Rs12.5 million financial allocations to provide relief for the flood-affected, Disaster Management Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said.

Addressing a press conference at the Disaster Management Centre yesterday he said with the co-ordination of District and Divisional Secretariats, arrangements have been made by the Disaster Management Centre to distribute cooked food and dry rations to displaced families.

Depending on the size of the family, each family is to receive the dry ration worth Rs 245-525 per day upto one week. "The money allocated at the moment is not enough to give adequate relief to the affected people. I hope to present an immediate Cabinet paper for more financial allocations," the Minister said.

Arrangements will also be made to estimate damages caused to households, private property and crops. The victims will be compensated.

Grass roots level public representatives, Local Government representatives and Divisional Secretariats officers are requested to join hands to provide relief and facilities to the affected people.

The Minister said his aim is to prevent such disasters in the future by implementing proper plans and strict laws.