Those living in houses built in unauthorised locations and affected by recent natural disasters will receive relief under the Government’s assistance programmes, without being treated separately, stated the Housing, Construction, and Water Supply Ministry.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Deputy Minister, T.B. Sarath said that affected families would not be treated separately based on the legal status of their housing, and that relief would be provided in the same manner as for other disaster-affected households. He said the focus at present is on supporting families who lost their homes due to floods and landslides, after which, steps will be taken to address unauthorised constructions in a phased and humane manner.

“We don’t expect to treat them separately. They will also receive relief. Once we complete providing assistance to those who lost their houses due to floods and landslides, unauthorised constructions can be removed gradually and the families relocated to safer locations,” he said.

Sri Lanka was recently affected by severe weather linked to cyclone Ditwah, which triggered heavy rainfall across several parts of the country, leading to unprecedented flooding and landslides. According to official assessments, a total of 6,176 houses were fully damaged, and 95,213 houses sustained partial damage as a result of the disaster.

The Government has announced a series of relief measures for those affected, including compensation for damaged houses, the construction of new houses or the provision of financial assistance for families who lost their homes, and the allocation of plots of land for those who lost their land entirely.