President Orders Swift Action on Sri Lanka’s Worst Weather Emergency

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a high-level virtual meeting this morning (28 Nov) with District Secretaries and District Coordination Committee Chairpersons to review emergency measures amid the worsening disaster caused by severe weather across Sri Lanka.

The President announced that Rs. 1.2 billion has already been allocated for immediate disaster relief, with an additional Rs. 30 billion reserved in the 2025 Budget for emergency needs.

He emphasized that financial constraints must not hinder rescue and relief operations, instructing officials to request additional funds if necessary and utilize existing district-level resources without delay.

To eliminate bureaucratic delays, the President directed the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration to issue a new circular immediately, easing restrictions on emergency spending. Furthermore, he ordered that management of relief centres for displaced persons be handed over to the Sri Lanka Army, ensuring efficient and organized care for affected communities.