Payments for flood aid late

6 February 2011 08:16 am

The government had failed to reimburse money for the purchase of relief items made by officials such as Divisional Secretaries and Grama Seva Niladharis to be distributed among people affected by disasters in the past, and therefore, those officials were hesitant to assist the present flood victims through such measures this time, the JVP charged today

“We learn that the government is to yet to settle Rs.500, 000 for the purchases made in the Kantale area for the people affected by the Mavil Aru war way back in 2006. As a result, government officials are not willing to purchase anything on late payment basis.

They have been inconvenienced personally before the eyes of local businessmen,” he said. Mr. Herath said that there the government had failed to address the relief needs of the people affected by the second round of floods in several districts.

“Displaced people accommodated at welfare camps in urban areas have got some form of assistance. However, in other areas, people are still without aid. There is no proper head count on these people either. Affected people sometimes stay with their relatives,” he said.

Also, he charged that relief materials donated by various organizations had been stacked up at the houses of some persons contesting for the local government election under the UPFA ticket.  “Flood aid is also used for political gains,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)