President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stressed that proper coordination among all stakeholders involved in providing relief to disaster-affected communities is essential to ensure that assistance reaches the public more effectively and productively.
He made these remarks during a meeting held yesterday (29) with representatives of non-governmental organisations at the Defence Headquarters.
Expressing gratitude to everyone who has stepped forward during this challenging period, the President called for sincere and committed efforts within a nationally coordinated framework to achieve the intended goals.
Highlighting that rescue and relief operations are being carried out for all affected individuals without discrimination, the President noted that every effort is being made to provide necessary facilities and restore dignity to their lives. He added that this difficult period has also created an opportunity to set an example for national unity and reconciliation across the country.
The government, together with the Tri-Forces, continues uninterrupted operations to rescue those affected by the disaster. The President emphasized that supporting displaced persons, restoring normalcy to public life, and rebuilding essential infrastructure should be undertaken with the cooperation of all stakeholders. He reiterated the importance of advancing these efforts under a national programme with strong coordination among all parties.
Representatives at the meeting shared details of the programmes their organisations have planned to help disaster-affected communities. They thanked the President for inviting them to the discussion and for recognising their contributions.
They also noted that the value of NGOs during crises extends beyond financial assistance, pointing to their expertise, experience and technical knowledge. Despite current economic challenges, they expressed confidence that Sri Lanka can endure this adversity due to the strong ethical and moral revival taking place in the country.
Furthermore, they stated that, thanks to the government’s corruption-free initiatives, they now feel confident working closely with the state.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath; Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa; Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Upali Pannilage; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyakontha; the Tri-Forces Commanders; the Inspector General of Police; and several other officials.
