"The President had instructed local authorities to provide immediate relief to the flood affected areas during his visit to the Anuradhapura District. He also instructed the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development to attend to the reconstruction work with immediate effect. Therefore, I summoned two battalions and tasked them with the rebuilding process with a view tore-establish the normalcy in the region", said Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Sunday(28th Dec).
Secretary Defence expressed these views when he met with flood affected communities in Anuradhapura. He pledged that the government is determined to improve the situation as quickly as possible. During the visit he visited the affected areas and inspected the relief measures carried out there.
An inclement weather that brought down torrential rainfall and strong winds had caused widespread floods, landslides and mudslides across the Island during the past few days. The deluge has inundated large swathes of paddy fields and agricultural lands which has caused a heavy toll on the livelihood of these people who are mostly farmers.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) is playing a central role in dealing with this emergency situation in North Central Province with the support of the Disaster Management Task Force (DMTF). HE the President appointed DMTF with a view to co-ordinate and to provide speedy response while providing relief measures to the victims.
The DMTF led by Secretary to the President comprised of Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Chief of Defence Staff, Tri Services Commanders and Inspector General of Police are acting upon the situation in full swing. Accordingly, Tri-Services and Police are leading in extending necessary assistances to the local authorities in managing the consequences of the disaster.
Sri Lanka Navy flood relief teams have been deployed in Anuradhapura and also in other vulnerable districts such as Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa, and Ampara. Meanwhile, Army has established a special 'Disaster Relief Centre' in Minneriya with a view of further assisting the affected people.(MoD/KH)