June 06, Colombo (LNW): Defence State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon presided over a convened meeting on the 5th of this month with delegates from UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), and NGOs.
The objective of the meeting was to apprise them of the ongoing rescue and relief endeavours dedicated to supporting communities adversely affected by inclement weather.
During the session, the state minister provided the attending UN, INGO, and NGO officials with updates on prevailing weather conditions and the advancements in the ongoing relief initiatives undertaken by disaster management authorities.
These operations are being conducted in collaboration with District and Divisional Secretariats, in coordination with the tri-forces, Sri Lanka Police, Civil Security Department, and other governmental entities.
The minister expressed sincere gratitude for the assistance and cooperation extended by the UN agencies, INGOs, and NGOs in providing relief to the victims of flooding.
He underscored the imperative of intensifying efforts in the post-disaster phase, particularly in the realms of repair and reconstruction, to rehabilitate the civilian populace affected by the calamity.
Furthermore, he urged them to bolster their support and allocations towards relief efforts, as stated by the Defence Ministry in a release.
A specific plea was made for assistance in repairing schools, which currently serve as safe havens catering to a significant number of flood victims, along with addressing the damages incurred by residential properties.
The statement additionally noted the willingness of UN, INGO, and NGO officials to extend their aid in this regard.
The dialogue was attended by officials from the Disaster Management Centre, as well as representatives from various UN agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, Red Cross, World Vision, among others, and several NGOs.
