(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena instructed the relevant officials to take swift measures to provide relief to those who are affected by the severe weather conditions.
President also instructed to obtain the assistance of the armed forces in relief operations and as well as in evacuations in flood-prone areas.
During a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat Tuesday (24) to discuss the prevailing weather conditions in the country President said he will coordinate the allocations of funds required for the operations.
As it was forecasted for the showery weather to continue at least for next two months, the President explained the importance of working strategically with the coordination of all the sectors and the relevant ministries to face the situation.
Furthermore, the President pointed out the need of managing the relief programs for the public without any hindrance during the upcoming Presidential Election period.
Due to the heavy rainfall occurred over the past several days more than 6,000 people in Galle, Matara and Colombo districts have been affected and during this meeting the progress of the relief programs conducted aiming at those affected people was also reviewed.
The Disaster Management Ministry pointed out that the Ministry had launched a program to supply drinking water to the people in 15 districts who are affected by the drought and those activities are continuously taking forward by the Ministry.
The Minister of Disaster Management Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Secretary to the President Udaya R. Seneviratne, Defense Secretary General Shantha Kottegoda, Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management, public servants, the Chief of the Defense Staff, tri-forces commanders, Acting IGP and others participated in this meeting.
