President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to give top priority to restoring the livelihoods of communities affected by the recent disaster, emphasising the need to expedite compensation payments and take immediate steps to revive the agriculture, fisheries and industrial sectors.
He directed that all compensation for crop damage be completed before December 25, according to the President’s Media Division. These instructions were issued during a special District Coordinating Committee meeting held this morning (13) at the Puttalam District Secretariat.
Describing the recent cyclone as one of the largest disasters the country has faced in recent times, the President commended the dedicated efforts of the tri-forces, the Police and public officials in restoring the lives of affected communities. He noted that due to their commitment, a significant portion of essential infrastructure, including electricity, water supply and roads, has already been rehabilitated.
The President stressed that the Government’s ability to provide substantial compensation to disaster-affected communities is a result of strong fiscal discipline. He also instructed Divisional Secretaries to ensure that compensation and aid are provided strictly to eligible recipients and to intervene fully to prevent any irregularities in distribution.
During the meeting, the rehabilitation of damaged highways and bridges in the district was discussed in detail. The President addressed issues arising during reconstruction and provided on-the-spot solutions in consultation with relevant officials. He also instructed that a temporary bridge be constructed at the Lower Kala Oya to meet the needs of the tourism sector, emphasising that all construction must be based on necessity and proper structural assessments.
The President further noted that past large-scale projects were abandoned without delivering intended benefits, stressing that future infrastructure development should focus on both regional requirements and broader national economic gains.
He reviewed progress on restoring electricity and water supplies in the district, urging authorities to complete outstanding work without delay. He also directed provincial authorities to intervene promptly to improve water supply restoration, noting that existing well-cleaning efforts are insufficient.
Regarding agriculture, the President inquired into preparations for the upcoming Maha paddy cultivation and instructed officials to create a conducive environment for farming, minimise abandoned land and explore alternative methods to ensure productive land use. He reiterated that all compensation due to farmers must be paid before December 25, regardless of whether land is in reserve or protected areas, while also implementing measures to prevent cultivation on reserved lands. He further highlighted the need for comprehensive soil conservation programmes in areas such as Kalpitiya.
The President emphasised the importance of fair compensation for those engaged in the livestock sector and stressed the need for accurate ground-level data, calling for legislation to ensure the registration of all livestock farms.
According to the statement, the disaster completely destroyed 627 houses in the district, while 20,813 houses sustained partial damage. The President directed that compensation be expedited, prioritising resettlement on government land. Where government land is unavailable, he instructed that Rs. 5 million be provided to each family to purchase alternative land. For families whose homes were completely destroyed, new housing projects will be implemented to ensure ownership of a house valued at Rs. 5 million for each beneficiary.
Attention was also given to the fisheries sector, with discussions held on assisting the repair of damaged fishing boats, providing fair compensation and introducing concessional bank loan schemes for prawn farmers.
President Dissanayake also inquired into operations at Chilaw Hospital, where authorities informed him that patient admissions and the functioning of several units are expected to resume by next week.
The meeting was attended by several officials and representatives, including Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government and Chairman of the Puttalam District Coordination Committee Chandana Abeyratne, Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, North Western Province Governor Tissa Warnasuriya, Government and Opposition Members of Parliament from the Puttalam District, local government representatives including the North Western Provincial Secretary, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, the Puttalam District Secretary, Divisional Secretaries, government officials and representatives of the security forces.
