The Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) Association have requested the Government to extend the 16 December deadline for registering industries affected by the recent disaster to 16 January 2026. 

The initial deadline had been granted by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Speaking to the media, SMEs Chamber of Commerce Media Spokesperson Susantha Liyanarachchi stated that the country’s industrial sector has been severely impacted by adverse weather conditions caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

He further urged the Government to provide necessary support to rebuild affected businesses through permanent capital investment and concessional interest rate loan facilities.

Addressing the issue, Liyanarachchi said: “There was a request to register the destroyed businesses, but the process concluded on 16 December. I request the Government to extend this deadline until 16 January 2026, as Divisional Secretariats and District Secretaries have not yet been able to conduct a census or collect accurate data. The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance has also stated that information is still being received through District Secretaries. As only Rs. 200,000 is being provided, I do not believe this amount is sufficient to cover the losses.”