December 01, Colombo (LNW): Authorities have urged residents in flood-hit regions to remain alert to the heightened danger of water-borne and mosquito-related illnesses, as stagnant pools and contaminated surfaces continue to spread across affected districts.
Health officials emphasise that the combination of standing water, disrupted sanitation and overcrowded shelters could accelerate the transmission of infections unless people take extra precautions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Colombo today (1), Assistant Secretary of the National Disaster Relief Services Centre, Jayatissa Munasinghe, outlined a series of measures activated to support communities in distress. He confirmed that each Divisional Secretariat has been granted an advance allocation of Rs. 50 million, enabling them to deal swiftly with urgent needs without being hampered by lengthy administrative procedures.
According to Munasinghe, these funds have already begun to flow to the grassroots level, covering emergency food provisions, temporary shelter needs and essential supplies. Alongside the established system for distributing dry rations, Divisional Secretaries have been given the authority to approve additional food deliveries depending on conditions in their respective areas. Local committees will assess requirements daily as floodwaters shift and more households become isolated.
The dry-ration packages are intended to sustain families for a week, with extensions available if conditions worsen. The current scale of assistance provides Rs. 2,100 for an individual, Rs. 4,200 for couples, Rs. 6,300 for families of three, Rs. 8,400 for those with four members, and Rs. 10,500 for larger households. Officials noted that these allocations aim to prevent shortages while transport routes remain disrupted.
Munasinghe also stressed the importance of restoring homes to safe living conditions. Many dwellings, he said, are inundated with mud, silt and debris that must be cleared promptly to prevent disease outbreaks. To support this effort, an amendment to Section 5(2) of Circular 1(2025) now permits a Rs. 10,000 grant for every affected home, regardless of ownership status, to fund essential cleaning and basic repairs. The revised directive was issued yesterday by the Secretary of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).
In areas where road access and communications have been severely disrupted, restoration work is progressing, though conditions remain challenging. Munasinghe appealed to the public to cooperate fully with relief officers, who he noted are working long hours in difficult circumstances to reach all those who require assistance.
