December 21, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a high-level meeting at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday to assess progress on district-based recovery efforts under the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ initiative and to address obstacles slowing implementation.
The discussion brought together senior ministry secretaries overseeing key sectors such as defence, agriculture, irrigation, water supply, fisheries, transport, housing and construction, along with heads of state institutions and District Secretaries from across the country, according to the President’s Media Division.
During the meeting, the President directed officials to ensure that financial assistance earmarked for affected households is released without delay. He instructed that the Rs. 25,000 grant allocated for house cleaning and the Rs. 50,000 allowance intended for replacing essential household items must reach eligible recipients before 31 December.
Officials presented updates on compensation schemes for damaged homes and crops, the operation of safe centres, resettlement initiatives, livelihood restoration and infrastructure repairs. Particular focus was placed on difficulties encountered in disbursing compensation, with the President stressing the need for efficiency, accuracy and fairness so that no entitled family is overlooked.
The meeting also examined plans for relocating families from vulnerable locations, including the identification of suitable land and the development of district-specific housing projects. The President indicated that further consultations involving all relevant stakeholders would be organised to finalise and accelerate these plans.
Attention was also given to preparations for the Maha cultivation season, with reviews of irrigation rehabilitation, farmer assistance programmes and the supply of seeds and other inputs. In addition, officials discussed compensation for damaged livestock farms, measures to help small businesses resume operations, the revival of fisheries activities and the timely distribution of the Rs. 15,000 allowance for schoolchildren affected by the disaster.
The session concluded with a review of steps taken to streamline the reissuance of lost passports and national identity cards, underscoring the government’s intention to remove administrative hurdles faced by displaced and affected citizens.
