Colombo, Oct. 15 (Daily Mirror) - Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya yesterday pledged that the government would continue its post-Cyclone Ditwa reconstruction efforts until all affected families regain their livelihoods, stressing that no victim would be abandoned.
Addressing a programme at the Kandy City Hall, where land deeds and financial assistance were distributed to disaster-affected people in the Kandy District, she described Cyclone Ditwa as one of the most severe and challenging natural disasters the country had faced in recent history.
“We will continue the government’s reconstruction mission without faltering until every child is guaranteed a safe home and an education,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the government had allocated approximately Rs. 500 billion for disaster relief and reconstruction, adding that the funds had been sourced from Treasury savings rather than through further borrowing.
According to official figures, 195,271 people from 58,753 families in the Kandy District were affected by the disaster, while 7,941 families require complete relocation.
Of those families, arrangements are being made to relocate 1,802 to State-owned land, 1,064 to their own land, 2,300 through the purchase of houses, 757 through the purchase of land for construction, and 454 in plantation-related areas.
Payments to 1,535 families have been completed so far, while authorities are working to expedite the remaining process through Divisional Secretaries.
The Prime Minister said delays had occurred due to the limited availability of State-owned land and delays in reports from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO).
She also outlined the financial assistance provided to disaster-affected families through the National Disaster Relief Services Centre.
More than Rs. 10.787 billion has been spent to provide Rs. 25,000 each to 431,516 families to clean their homes. This represents 99.95% of the families identified as eligible for the payment, according to the figures provided.
A further Rs. 8.372 billion has been spent to provide Rs. 50,000 each to 167,458 families to purchase essential kitchenware, while Rs. 3.078 billion has been allocated to provide Rs. 15,000 each to 205,200 students to meet their educational needs.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that relief distribution had been delayed in certain areas due to legal restrictions, outdated circulars, administrative difficulties and attempts by some individuals to submit false claims despite not having suffered damage.
However, she said the government had taken steps to address the legal and administrative obstacles to ensure assistance reached those genuinely affected by the disaster.
She also said the United Nations, in collaboration with local organisations, had provided direct relief assistance to more than 600,000 people.
Meanwhile, a housing construction programme covering districts including Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya, with the assistance of the Armed Forces and the Civil Security Department, is nearing completion, she said.
The Prime Minister expressed her appreciation to the Armed Forces, public officials, local and international organisations, volunteers and members of the public who had supported relief and reconstruction efforts since the cyclone struck.
Several Members of Parliament, including Jagath Manuwarna, Thanura Dissanayake, Thushari Jayasinghe and E. M. Basnayake, along with Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta, local government representatives, Divisional Secretaries, government officials and disaster-affected beneficiaries, attended the event.