Restoring Lives under ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Program
Special Discussion on Restoring Lives under the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Program Held under the patronage of the President
A special discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to review district-level plans aimed at restoring the lives of citizens under the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ programme and to examine challenges that have emerged during implementation.
The meeting included Secretaries of Ministries responsible for defence, agriculture, irrigation, water supply, fisheries, transport, housing, and construction, heads of relevant line institutions, and all District Secretaries.
The President issued instructions to ensure that the Rs. 25,000 government grant for house cleaning and the Rs. 50,000 allowance for purchasing household equipment are provided to beneficiaries before 31 December.
Detailed progress was also reviewed on district-level activities to compensate for housing and crop losses, operate safe centres nationwide, resettle affected citizens, restore livelihoods, and develop infrastructure.
Special attention was given to challenges in implementing compensation payments, emphasizing the need to conduct these activities efficiently and ensure that all eligible beneficiaries receive their entitlements without exclusion.
Extensive discussions were held on resettlement and identification of required lands, and steps were taken to prepare separate plans for housing projects in the central districts. The President indicated that follow-up consultations with all relevant stakeholders will be convened.
The need to promptly relocate citizens from high-risk areas to safer locations was emphasized, along with the requirement to ensure that compensation for housing losses is distributed fairly and transparently.
The President also reviewed the progress of programmes to prepare farmers for the Maha Season, including irrigation repairs, grant provision, and seed and other facility distribution.
Additionally, discussions included providing compensation to livestock farmers affected by the disaster, supporting the restart of small businesses, restoring the fisheries industry, and promptly distributing the Rs. 15,000 government allowance to schoolchildren.
The implementation of procedures for reissuing lost passports and national identity cards was also examined during the meeting.
Officials present included Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne, Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Ret.), Secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government, S. Aloka Bandara, Commissioner General of Essential Services, Secretary of the Ministry of Irrigation and Public Infrastructure, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Kumudu Lal Bogahawatta, Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Senior Professor Kapila Perera, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Enterprise Development Tilaka Jayasundara, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, D.P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries, Water and Ocean Resources Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, Senior Additional Presidential Secretaries Kapila Janaka Bandara, Roshan Gamage, and Russel Aponso; officials from the Disaster Management Centre, National Building Research Organization, Department of Agriculture, Department of Irrigation, Department of Railways, all District Secretaries and Senior Officials from the Ministry of Finance.