President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the initiative to provide compensation for fully damaged houses and to construct new homes for families affected by the recent disaster will commence on January 9th in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala.
The President made these comments during the second meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Planning, and Economic Development of the 10th Parliament, which took place yesterday afternoon at the Parliamentary Complex.
During the meeting, extensive discussions focused on the current status of the Government’s relief efforts for communities impacted by Cyclone Ditwah. This included resettlement initiatives and compensation for crop damage. The President highlighted that instructions have been given to the Department of Agriculture and the Agrarian Services Department to expedite compensation payments, ensuring they are based on accurate data collection and verified statistics.
The meeting also addressed the loan scheme available for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs affected by the disaster. The President emphasized the importance of engaging with banks and implementing an awareness program to inform the business community about accessing these loan facilities.
Stressing the significance of registering all businesses that contribute to the national economy, the President highlighted the need for a dedicated mechanism to ensure registration and to educate the business community on the benefits of formal registration.
President Dissanayake further stated that the Government is committed to providing relief to unregistered small and medium-sized entrepreneurs affected by the recent disaster. District Secretaries have been instructed to submit relevant reports on this matter.
Emphasizing the efficient utilization of funds allocated for development projects, the President warned that failing to do so would hinder the achievement of development targets within the stipulated timeframes.
He also stressed that post-disaster recovery efforts should not merely restore livelihoods to their previous state but should aim to elevate the living standards of affected communities beyond pre-disaster levels.
Several Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Members of Parliament participated in the meeting, alongside the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma. Also present were the Commissioner-General of Essential Services and the Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Prabath Chandrakirthi, as well as senior officials from institutions under the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
