President orders to complete the distribution of 50000 and 25000 allowances before December 31.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has given strict instructions to officials to expedite the provision of a Rs. 25,000 allowance for house cleaning and a Rs. 50,000 allowance for purchasing household appliances to the public before December 31. The President gave these instructions during a special discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on the 20th.

The main objective of this discussion was to review the district-level programs implemented to restore normalcy to people's lives after the disaster and to identify the issues that have arisen. Ministry secretaries, heads of institutions, and all district secretaries related to various subjects including defense, agriculture, irrigation, water supply, fisheries, transport, housing, and construction participated in this meeting chaired by the President.

The progress of district-level programs, including compensation payments for housing and crop damage, management of safe centers across the island, the process of resettling people, livelihood restoration, and infrastructure development, was extensively reviewed here. Special attention was paid to the issues that have arisen in the compensation payment process, and the President emphasized that these activities should be carried out efficiently and transparently. He also pointed out the importance of providing these benefits to all eligible for compensation without delay, ensuring no one is unfairly treated.

Extensive discussions were also held regarding the resettlement of people and the identification of necessary land for it. The President stated that steps would be taken to prepare separate plans for new housing projects targeting major districts and to hold further discussions with relevant parties. Furthermore, the President emphasized the necessity of promptly evacuating people from high-risk zones and resettling them in safe locations, as well as the importance of ensuring fairness and transparency in compensating for housing damages. The President also inquired about the progress of programs providing irrigation reforms, compensation payments, and facilities including seed paddy to prepare farmers for the Maha season.

The discussion also covered the progress of programs to compensate owners of damaged livestock farms and restore their livelihoods, assist in restarting small businesses destroyed by the disaster, rehabilitate the fisheries industry, and expedite the completion of the Rs. 15,000 allowance provided by the government for schoolchildren. The President also focused on the program for the prompt re-issuance of destroyed passports and national identity cards.