ReliefWeb

Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services has allocated Rs.23 Million for providing relief to the people who have been affected by the torrential rain in several parts of the country, past few weeks.

The money has been allocated to Government Agents of six (06) Districts to purchase essential and necessary items required by the flood victims and for distribution among them.

Rs.Ten Million (10) for Ratnapura District, Rs.Four Million (04) for Gampaha and Kalutara Districts each, Rs.Two Million (02) for Colombo and Galle Districts each, and Rs.One Million (o1) for Matara District have already been sent.

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen visited the flood affected areas in Kalutara, Galle and Colombo Districts on 02.06.2008 and inquired from the flood victims, about their grievances and consoled them.

Minister also visited the Schools and Temples where people severely affected by the floods in kolonnawa, Wellampitiya, Kelanimulla and wennawatta areas are staying and inquired about the shortcomings in the centers and directed the officials to attend to their needs immediately.

Twenty one (21) persons have died, seventy one houses (71) have been completely damaged and four hundred and seventy two (472) houses have been partly damaged owing to the heavy floods caused by the downpour.

Rs.15,000/- has been allocated for funeral expenses of each dead person and forwarded to the respective District Secretaries. The Ministry is also taking action to pay compensation for damaged houses and has commenced collecting details of them.

Secretary of the Ministry, Mr.A.C.M.Razik has said that the Ministry is geared to provide relief and allocation if further damages are caused by heavy rain and floods.