Disaster relief concluded with success - Minister

Athapattu Bandara

Disaster Management Mahinda Amaraweera said over 95 percent of disaster relief work has been completed with around Rs.211 million released for that purpose and over Rs.55.7 million spent this year alone. The remaining five percent work was due to the negligence of government officials.

We have identified one Divisional Secretary and some Gramaseva offcers in certain areas who had failed to carry out their duties and stern action will be taken against them after inquiries, he said.

“Compulsory relief work for the affected families was ordered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and if any body is found guilty of negligence, they would be puunished,” he added.

“But on an average, almost all the government officers rendered their service with utmost commitment, “he aid.

“In some villages, certain volunteer organizations were formed and actively participated in relief work. So steps will be taken to empower these volunteer organizations to contribute to disaster management activities in the future, “he added.

Responding to meaningless opposition party slogans that the government’s allocation for relief work for the effected families were not sufficient, the Minister scoffed at that these allegations saying that they were totally politically motivated. He said no opposition members had even visited these affected people.

“I was informed that UNP deputy leader Sajith Premadasa had asked that Rs.500,000 be paid as compensation to each of the 339.258 affected families. But in reality, it will cost much more than that amount.

“These are mere political slogans. Without making such foolish statements, the Minister invited all opposition members to join with the government to help out the innocent people at this juncture.

Some opposition politicians were truly supportive in this respect. But they are not exhibitive as these media mania politicians, he charged.