Crash program for flood affected

Chaminda PERERA

The Government yesterday launched a crash program to provide immediate relief to the people affected by floods and landslides. Around Rs 100 million is to be spent to supply cooked meals for the affected people in 13 districts.

The Government directed the officials in 13 districts that the people affected by the flood and landslides be provided with cooked meals and a maximum of Rs 200 can be spent for the cooked meal for a person a day.

The Government earlier allocated a maximum of Rs 100 a day for meal of a person affected by the floods and landslides and the allocation has been doubled to provide a better meal to them.

The Diaster Management Ministry in a special circular issued to District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries in 13 districts where floods and landslides wreaked havoc said the affected people are entitled to receive meals for a maximum of three days on the recommendation of the respective Divisional Secretary.

The respective District Secretary can extend this period to a week after taking the disaster situation in the district into account.

Accoridng to Dissater Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, the Divisional Secretaries have been allowed to provide dry rations to the people affected by the floods for a week and it can be extended to a fortnight by the respective District Secretary.

A family of one or two members is entitled to receive dry rations worth of Rs 500 while a family of three or four members receive dry rations worth of Rs 750.

A family of five members or above is also given a pack of dry rations worth Rs 1,000.

The people whose livelihood has been affected due to floods and landslides will be employed in projects to restore the damaged infrastructure facilities.

A person would be paid a maximum Rs 500 a day.