President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the compensation process and construction of new houses for those whose homes were completely destroyed by the recent disaster will begin in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala on January 9.
The President made this statement while attending the second meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Planning, and Economic Development of the Tenth Parliament.
At the meeting, officials discussed in detail the current status of the government’s relief programs for people affected by Cyclone Ditva, including compensation for resettlement and crop damage. The President emphasized that he has instructed the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Services to expedite the compensation process based on accurate data and verified statistics.
The meeting also addressed the loan scheme for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs impacted by the disaster. President Dissanayake highlighted the importance of creating programs to educate the business community on how to access these loans through consultations with banks.
Furthermore, the President underscored the need for a mechanism to register all businesses contributing to the national economy and to educate entrepreneurs about the benefits of registration. He also stated that the government is paying special attention to providing relief for unregistered small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, directing District Secretaries to submit comprehensive reports on these efforts.
President Dissanayake emphasized the importance of using allocated funds for development projects efficiently, warning that delays or mismanagement could hinder the achievement of the country’s development goals.
He concluded by stating that all relief and rebuilding activities should be carried out in a manner that elevates the living standards of affected communities beyond their pre-disaster levels.
