Adverse weather: Assessment of damages caused to houses to begin

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Ministry of Disaster Management says the assessment of damages caused to houses due to adverse weather will begin next Monday (May 28). Secretary to the Ministry Sisira Kumara said as of now 43 houses have been destroyed while 3,225 houses have been damaged. The secretary noted that teams of three members consisting of grama niladharis, technicians and disaster relief officials have been assigned at divisional secretariat levels to assess the damages caused to houses. Sisira Kumara further noted that a maximum compensation of Rs. 2.5 million will be offered for damaged houses. Meanwhile, the ministry also noted that measures are underway to provide a compensation of Rs. 100,000 for each life lost due to adverse weather, adding that at first Rs. 15,000 will be paid in advance. Secretary Sisira Kumara went on to note that money has already been allocated and passed to divisional secretariats for this purpose.