Subsidized fertilizer:

All farmers benefit

*President inspects flood damage

*Income avenues for victims

*Next Deyata Kirula in A’pura

Nimal WIJESINGHE-Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr The President was on a tour of Anuradhapura to inspect the flood damage and to observe first hand the measures taken to prove speedy relief to flood victims.

At a meeting with Government officials and representatives of provincial and local authorities at the Anuradhapura Central Bank Auditorium, the President called on everyone irrespective of political differences to contribute their mite to alleviate the condition of destitute villagers who fell victim to the floods.

President Rajapaksa said the damage caused by the floods in the Eastern and North Central Provinces had been estimated at Rs 33,000 million. He assured all officials who submitted estimates for various rehabilitation work that the Government would provide them funds to alleviate the condition of the victims and restore normality.

The President also said in his bid to rebuild the flood devastated Anuradhapura to its past pristine glory, next year’s Deyata Kirula event will be held in Sri Lanka’s ancient capital.

He also said thousands of flood devastated villagers, the victims of the floods, would be offered work in work sites that have been started for rehabilitating damaged roads, tanks, anicuts, houses and school buildings etc so that they would be able to secure a daily wage of Rs 500.

Accompanying the President were Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivaard Cabraal.

Also present were Minister Tissa Karalliyadda and S M Chandrasena, Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Deputy Ministers Duminda Dissanayake, W B Ekanayake, Governor Karunaratne Divulgane, Provincial Ministers and members of the PC and Pradeshiya Sabhas, Army Commander Jagath Jayasooriya, Finance Secretary P B Jayasundara, Several Line Ministry Secretaries, Anuradhapura Government Agent H M K Herath, all Divisional Secretaries and Heads of Departments.