Providing relief to bad weather affected communities will
continue - State Minister of Defence
June 04, 2024
According to the latest statistics, over 130,021 people belonging to 33,422 families in 262 Divisional Secretary Divisions have been affected by the prevailing bad weather. In addition, 26 deaths and 41 injuries to people have been reported. As of today morning, 9248 persons belonging to 2368 families are housed in 116 safe centers, stated State Minister of Defence Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon attending the parliamentary session today (June 04).
Furthermore, to provide the affected people with the necessary facilities, state officials of the District and Divisional Secretariats, tri forces, police and Civil Security Department as well as members of the relief groups implemented through the village committees, are diligently working in this regard and that their services should be appreciated, he pointed out.
The President has already allocated the necessary financial allocations for relief work to District and Divisional Secretariats through a special Gazette.
Rescue and relief work is continuing with priority being given to requests made by the District and Divisional Secretariats as well as the calls to the Disaster Management Center’s 24-hour emergency hotline number 117.
He also said that arrangements will be made to provide all that is required including boats, unicorn vehicles, WMZ vehicles for disaster rescue and relief operations at all times.
Also, action plans to reduce future flood risks in identified areas including Ratnapura have already been identified, but due to the current economic crisis as well as various political reasons and the interventions of environmental groups, the implementation of those plans has been delayed, he said, emphasizing the importance of finding a lasting solution.
Further, the State Minister stated that despite inadequacies in the technical tools available with the Meteorology Department due to the lack of funding owing to the current economic crisis, we will use our resources to issue more accurate weather reports as well as continue to implement innovative projects.