General

The Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Environment, Agriculture, and Resource Sustainability discussed the effects of Cyclone ‘Ditwah’ on Sri Lanka's agriculture and environment. They also talked about the steps being taken to bring the affected areas back to normal. This meeting occurred in Parliament on January 22, led by Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy, as reported by the Department of Communication of Parliament. Representatives from several ministries, including Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Environment, and Finance, Planning and Economic Development, participated in the meeting. During the discussions, the Committee Chairman asked if the relevant ministries had prepared reports that were based on data about the damage caused by Cyclone ‘Ditwah’. Officials confirmed that they had done assessments and compiled damage estimation reports. The committee received detailed briefings on these findings, and officials from the various departments also shared the data available from their institutions. After these presentations, the Chairman asked for more information about how compensation would be provided to those affected and how the compensation amounts were decided. Officials from the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure explained that compensation payments would be made after a Cabinet Memorandum was submitted, which limited their ability to give more details at that time. The Committee highlighted the importance of having a clear and organized process for compensation payments and instructed that this process be formalized and sped up.