Some people displaced by Cyclone Ditwah are reluctant to leave relief camps where they continue to receive Government assistance, despite ongoing efforts to relocate them to safer housing, an official from the Defence Ministry said.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Additional Secretary (Disaster Management Division) at the Ministry, Dharmathilaka Gamage said that the Government continued to provide necessary facilities to camp residents while working to provide permanent housing solutions. However, the relocation process is progressing slowly due to a shortage of staff, he said. “Sometimes, people tend to complain that they are still in the camps and that the Government has not provided solutions yet, while continuing to receive the benefits,” Gamage said. He said that regular reviews are being conducted and that the Government is continuing to provide the necessary facilities to those remaining in the camps. According to Gamage, only a small number of people remain in the camps because they cannot afford rent or find relatives with whom they can stay, while others are reluctant to leave.

“The Government has only spent Rs 43 billion out of the Rs 150 billion allocated for housing construction yet. A further Rs 100 million is also to be allocated for next year (2027), while rental expenses are also being covered for those who need to rent accommodation”. Gamage said that Rs 22,948 million was being spent on constructing 8,574 houses that had been completely destroyed in Ditwah, while Rs 17,540 million was being spent on constructing 61,682 houses that had been partly damaged.

For those unable to find land for relocation, interim houses would be constructed on their existing land until their permanent houses are built, he said. He added that 35 interim houses are currently being constructed in the Nuwara Eliya District. He also said that Rs 600,000 was allocated per person for those requiring interim housing assistance.

Gamage concluded that the Government expected to spend at least Rs 100 billion out of the allocated budget by the end of 2026, with the aim of relocating more people to safer houses. His comments come amid concerns that another 3,162 families are displaced by adverse weather conditions intensified by Cyclone Arnab, while some people displaced by Ditwah in November 2025 continue to remain in relief camps to date.