• Farmers to resume Maha cultivation with full support
• Electricity, water, roads nearing full restoration
• Schools to reopen; relief allowances to be distributed

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed the relevant officials to expedite the compensation process for farmers in the Anuradhapura District whose paddy cultivation was destroyed by floods for them to re-cultivate during the upcoming Maha  season.

Highlighting the need for all relevant institutions to work in proper coordination, treating this as a national necessity, the President instructed the authorities to provide compensation to farmers without delay and to ensure temporary irrigation water supply through provisional repairs.

The President further noted the Government is providing the highest amount of compensation in the country’s history for crop damages, with the expectation that cultivation activities will be commenced again promptly.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake gave these instructions yesterday (07) while attending a special coordination committee meeting at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat to review the programme being implemented to restore normalcy to the lives of people affected by the disaster situation and to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure in the district.

He instructed officials to present, before 12 December, a report detailing the number of farmers who were completely affected, the extent of damaged farmland and the required financial allocations. He emphasised that compensation must be granted only to those who are genuinely entitled and that no one should receive it unjustly.

The President also said the Government is committed to providing compensation to the farming community and directed officials to foster confidence among farmers so they will be encouraged to resume cultivation.

He also inquired, separately, from the relevant institutions about the measures taken for the development of the District’s infrastructure including highways, irrigation and communication networks.

The President examined the programme for reopening obstructed roads and instructed that temporary repairs be expedited to meet the public’s transportation needs until permanent road development plans are implemented.

During the meeting the Ceylon Electricity Board officials informed that of the 580 damaged transformers 473 were restored and the full electricity supply to the district would be achieved today (8).

It was further informed by the relevant officials that 49,000 water connections were affected, of which about 99% have now been restored, while water is being supplied by bowsers to the remaining areas. They noted that total restoration of the water supply is expected within the next two days. Damaged community water projects are also being restored.

Well-cleaning activities are currently being carried out with the support of the Navy and the President instructed officials to complete these tasks swiftly through community participation coordinated by Divisional Secretariats.

Discussions were also held regarding the provision of compensation for crops such as Maize, restarting cultivation, restoring the livelihoods of those engaged in animal husbandry, normalising health services and rehabilitating religious sites including damaged temples.

The floods have caused total damages to 228 houses in the district. The President instructed officials to gather accurate information on whether affected families should be resettled on the same land or relocated elsewhere and to begin identifying suitable land for resettlement.

Officials reported that all schools in the District could reopen by 16 December. The President instructed that the Rs. 15,000 allowance promised by the Treasury for schoolchildren affected by the disaster be fully distributed before 31 December and that the list of beneficiaries be prepared without delay.

The President also expressed his gratitude to Government officials, the Police and the Tri-Forces for their service in providing relief to the public and restoring infrastructure.