Special Coordination Committee meeting for Badulla District chaired by the President

During the meeting, the President asked about the resettlement process and any issues at the divisional secretariat level. He also focused on the quick release of state lands now occupied by private companies, which are intended for resettlement. The President instructed officials to begin housing construction as soon as agreements are reached regarding these lands. He stressed the importance of speeding up the resettlement process, urging authorities to move beyond just reports and plans. He wanted to ensure that those who lost their homes feel hopeful about owning new houses. The President also stated that families hesitant to relocate should be given until June 15 to make their decision. The meeting also reviewed the compensation process for affected individuals in Badulla District. This included payments for lost livelihoods, support for small and medium-sized businesses, housing rental aid, and compensation for loss of life. Attention was given to clearing sand and rocks from paddy fields and agricultural land affected by the cyclone. An allowance of Rs. 25,000 per acre will be provided for this effort, with implementation supported by farmer organizations. The President also focused on repairing roads damaged by the cyclone, demanding that all 21 affected roads under the Road Development Authority be finished this year. He inquired about the provincial road development program and the necessary funding, instructing officials to prepare cost estimates for these roads. He insisted that financial limitations should not hinder restoring normalcy for those affected. President Dissanayake expressed that the district should recover from the cyclone's damage within this year and be ready to restart the Badulla District development program next year. Other attendees included Badulla District Coordination Committee Chairman and Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyarathna; Co-Chairman and Uva Province Governor, Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara; Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ruwan Ranasinghe; Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Dinidu Saman Hennayake; Members of Parliament Kitnan Selvaraj and Ravindra Bandara; Mayors of Badulla and Bandarawela Municipal Councils; Chairpersons of Local Councils; public representatives; the Chief Secretary of Uva Province; the District Secretary; government officials from Badulla District; heads of relevant departments; and security force representatives. President Dissanayake highlighted that both political leaders and public officials must ensure the effective use of the LKR 500 billion allocated by the Government for Cyclone Ditwah's aftermath. He emphasized the importance of completing all related projects by the end of this year.