Prez wants immediate remedial action on flood victims

President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today instructed the officials to inspect the damages caused to houses in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts due to the floods and take immediate remedial action, Presidential Media Unit said.

He visited areas affected by floods in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts today to inspect relief measures provided to displaced people in the area.

President Rajapaksa who met the political authority and government officials at the President’s House in Anuradhapura this morning reviewed the welfare programme and instructed the relevant authorities to continue with providing assistance to the affected communities.

The relief programme is being implemented under two phases; provision of relief during the disaster as well as post-disaster activities. The President emphasised that the government acted with utmost responsibility in this process.

Floods caused by torrential rains have affected 10 out of 22 Divisional Secretariat areas in Anuradhapura District. The situation had left 5181 persons from 1561 families displaced. Around 2923 persons from 937 families have been provided shelter at welfare centres and measures have been taken to provide them with cooked food and dry rations.

Cleaning activities have already begun where floods have subsided. Directives have also been issued to inspect the available health facilities. Attention has been drawn to rehabilitate tanks and other infrastructure facilities.
As floods have also destroyed paddy crops, the President ordered officials to estimate the damage and take appropriate measures.

A special discussion will be chaired by the President at the Polonnaruwa District Secretariat this evening to look into to the relief efforts in Polonnaruwa District.