Disaster Compensation Raised to Rs. One Million

Deputy Defence Minister Major General Aruna Jayasekara said that the government has approved the increase of the compensation amount of Rs. 250,000 paid so far to Rs. One million for the loss of lives due to the disaster.

A media briefing was held at the Colombo Disaster Management Center yesterday (21) under the patronage of Deputy Defence Minister Major General Aruna Jayasekara with the aim of educating the public about the disaster situation that has arisen due to the recent adverse weather conditions affecting the island.

Speaking at the briefing, the Deputy Minister stated that according to the statistics received so far, 19,032 people belonging to 5,821 families in 127 Divisional Secretariat Divisions of 18 districts have been displaced due to the disaster. They are currently being housed in 17 disaster relief centers, and efforts are underway to provide them with the necessary infrastructure facilities as well as dry and cooked food rations. Two deaths have been reported due to the disaster, 10 complete house damage, 438 minor or partial house damage, 25 small or medium-scale businesses and 2 critical infrastructure facilities have also been reported to have been damaged.

As per the instructions of the President, under the full supervision of the Disaster Management Center, National Disaster Relief Services Center, National Building Research Institute, Department of Meteorology, and Ministry of Defense, District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, all government officials, the Tri-Forces, Sri Lanka Police, Civil Defense Force, and other relief teams, 24-hour relief efforts are currently underway for the affected people in the disaster-hit areas.

Furthermore, since most of the tanks and irrigation systems in those areas are still at overflow level, strengthening of the risky tank embankments is also being carried out as per the instructions of irrigation engineers.

As per the instructions of the President and the government, a financial provision of Rs. 30 million has been allocated for disaster relief services, and arrangements have been made to provide a daily food ration allowance of Rs. 1800 per person for the displaced people and Rs. 2400, Rs. 2800, Rs. 3200 and Rs. 3600 for cooked food or dry rations in the order of increasing the number of family members. The government has also approved the increase of the compensation amount of Rs. 250,000 paid so far to Rs. 1 million for the loss of life due to the disaster.

The Deputy Minister also stated that according to the forecasts of the Meteorological Department, this adverse weather condition will subside in the future. The Deputy Minister stated that the predictions made about this situation and the awareness raised through the media and social media have helped to minimize the risks of landslides and floods, and thanked the media institutions and the people who acted in accordance with those instructions.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that the state mechanism for preparing for the risk is already being prepared, and that a great responsibility has been assigned to all state institutions, including disaster relief teams, for the successful implementation of that process, and that the people should continue to take action to help minimize the possible damages by adhering to the government’s instructions and announcements.

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