President to visit Kandy tomorrow to grant Ditwah compensation and launch projects

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will visit Kandy tomorrow (06) to grant compensation to those affected by cyclone Ditwah and to launch several development initiatives in the district, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

The programme, to be held under the patronage of the President, includes the awarding of compensation to affected families and industries, the commencement of a housing programme for displaced persons, and the launch of major infrastructure projects.

The main compensation-awarding ceremony will take place at 9.00 a.m. tomorrow at the Central Provincial Council Auditorium in Kundasale. Compensation will be provided to industrialists in the Kundasale, Medadumbara, Pathadumbara and Panwila Divisional Secretariat areas whose businesses were affected by cyclone Ditwah, as well as to families whose homes were fully or partially damaged.

Under this programme, a compensation payment of Rs. 200,000 will be granted to individuals whose business premises or machinery were damaged, with the objective of enabling the resumption of business activities. In line with the President’s instructions, this financial assistance will be extended to all registered businesses, irrespective of whether they are small, medium or large-scale.

In addition, cheque payments of Rs. 2 million each will be issued as the first instalment of the Rs. 5 million allocated for the construction of new houses for families whose homes were completely destroyed in the Kandy District. This assistance will cover those rebuilding on their own land, reconstructing on existing plots, as well as individuals who have been allocated state land for new housing.

The President is also scheduled to participate in a symbolic ceremony to commence the construction of a new house under the housing programme.