Prez visits flood victims; orders immediate remedial measures

• Attention drawn to rehabilitate anicuts and other infrastructure facilities

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday instructed relevant officials to take immediate remedial action after inspecting the damages caused to houses in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Districts due to floods, the Presidential Media Unit said.   

He visited areas affected by floods in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Districts yesterday to inspect relief measures provided to those who had been displaced. 
President Rajapaksa who met the political authority and government officials at the President’s House in Anuradhapura reviewed the welfare programme and instructed relevant authorities to continue providing assistance to affected communities. 

The relief programme is being implemented under two phases; provision of relief during the disaster and 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. The situation had left 5,181 persons from 1,561 families displaced. 2,923 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 are underway where floods subsided while directives have been issued to inspect available health facilities. Attention has been drawn to rehabilitate anicuts and other infrastructure facilities. 

As floods have destroyed paddy crops, President Rajapaksa ordered officials to estimate the damages and take apt measures. 
A special discussion will be chaired by the President this evening at the Polonnaruwa District Secretariat to look into relief efforts in the area.   

• As floods have destroyed paddy crops, Prez ordered officials to estimate the damages and take apt measures