Bathiudeen commends Premier for assuring financial aid for flood-affectees before Dec. 31
(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) – The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, and Cooperative Development Rishad Bathiudeen commended the efforts made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for assuring financial aid for flood-affectees before the 31 December.
Minister Bathiudeen together with the Prime Minister visited the flood-affected areas in the Kilinochchi District on Friday (28) to review relief efforts, following the inclement weather that has displaced thousands in flood-hit Northern Province.
Premier Wickremesinghe and Minister Bathiudeen together with several Ministers and Parliamentarians met the Political Representatives and Officials of the area at the District Secretariat for a special discussion on providing relief to the flood-affectees.
It was decided at the meeting that Rs. 10,000 will be given immediately to every family affected by the floods, and up to Rs. 2.5 million will be given to the affected families via insurance after a full assessment is carried out.
They also met the affected people, who are currently being accommodated at temporary camps and distributed essential items, and assured that financial aid will be handed out before 31 December.
Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, Ministers Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Daya Gamage, Dr. Harsha De Silva, J. C.Alawathuwala and Vijayakala Maheswaran, Parliamentarians M. A. Sumanthiran, Mavai Senathiraja and Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Kilinochchi District Secretary Suntharan Arumainayagam, Mullativu District Secretary Rupawathi Keshishwaran, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara, and Senior Military Officers of the area also participated for the visit.
Meanwhile, Minister Bathiudeen has given instructions to provide immediate relief to the flood-affectees in the Northern Province. The Minister has instructed relevant Officials to provide this relief through the State-owned wholesale network Lanka Sathosa, which is under the purview of the Minister.
Accordingly, on immediate orders of Minister Bathiudeen, six trucks loaded with essential items including food and sanitary goods valued at Rs. 12 million from the Sathosa Warehouse in Welisara have been sent to the Northern Province.
At present 114,458 persons belonging to 36,594 families have been affected due to floods and strong winds in the Northern Province while 10,424 people from 3,258 families have been displaced in 32 shelters.