Cyclone Ditwah has brought about permanent displacements?

Initial relief of Rs 25,000 has been paid to 4,220, 047, individuals, Rs 50,000 grant allocated for purchasing kitchen equipment has been disbursed to 100,946 beneficiaries and Rs 15,000 students for the purchase of stationery has been paid to 136,828 school children 

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Cyclone Ditwah has brought about permanent displacements while a question remains as to whether some displaced families should be resettled in their original dwelling places or not.  Minister Samantha Vidyaratne who was speaking during a debate on Ditwah said the cyclone which hit Sri Lanka last November has forced the government to relocate eight schools in Badulla District. “The cyclone hit 233 kindergarten schools in Badulla,” the Minister said.  

However he said some infrastructure which were destroyed by the cyclone has been renovated to this date.  It was revealed that initial relief of Rs 25,000 has been paid to 4,220, 047, individuals, Rs 50,000 grant allocated for purchasing kitchen equipment has been disbursed to 100,946 beneficiaries and Rs 15,000 students for the purchase of stationery has been paid to 136,828 school children. 

 Meanwhile Opposition MP Chamindrani Kiriella said there are many families who have been displaced by Ditwah who are in a difficult situation as the authorities do not know whether to settle them in their original dwelling places or in new locations. 

“The issue is that the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) reports on investigations are still to come. The government should focus on this situation,” she said.