By: Isuru Parakrama
November 30, Colombo (LNW): In response to the severe weather conditions that have devastated communities in Sri Lanka’s North and East, government ministers, officials, and Security Forces are taking urgent and coordinated action to provide relief to the thousands affected by the floods.
A team of Deputy Ministers and senior government representatives travelled to the Northern Province on Thursday to assess the situation firsthand.
Their visit aimed to monitor the implementation of relief efforts, ensuring effective coordination between government staff and service personnel working at the local level to assist those in need.
Following direct orders from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, all government officials, including those in the Disaster Management sector, have activated an extensive relief operation across the most affected districts.
The President had given clear instructions during a meeting with senior officials on Wednesday to prioritise immediate relief efforts for those affected by the recent floods.
On Thursday, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, alongside Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), travelled to Jaffna to oversee disaster relief operations.
The duo, accompanied by Director General of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Major General Udaya Herath (Retd) and senior officers from the tri-forces, visited several temporary shelters, including Katkulam Vidyalaya and Point Pedro Central School, where flood victims have been housed.
During their visit, the Defence Secretary spoke directly with displaced individuals to better understand their needs, distributing dry ration packs to those affected by the flooding.
A strategic meeting was held in Jaffna with key officials, including Northern Province Governor R.N. Vethanayagam, local MPs, and senior military personnel, to discuss the ongoing relief efforts and challenges caused by the weather.
Simultaneously, Deputy Defence Minister Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) visited the Ampara district on Thursday to assess the extent of the flood damage.
A special session was convened at the Ampara District Secretariat, with senior officials from the DMC and tri-forces in attendance, to review the relief measures currently in place and to discuss strategies for mitigating the immediate risks posed by the flooding.
At the meeting, the Deputy Minister was briefed on the widespread damage, including loss of life and destruction to property, and the continuing difficulties faced by the district.
He emphasised the need for swift action to ensure essential services remain uninterrupted and urged officials to focus on restoring normalcy to affected communities as quickly as possible.
Additionally, disaster prevention strategies were a key topic of discussion, with plans being developed to reduce the risk of further damage should adverse weather conditions continue.
