NDRSC Confirms Relief Payments for 299,513 Disaster-Affected Homes

COLOMBO (News 1st): The National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) says that the Rs. 25,000 relief allowance has already been paid to 299,513 houses affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

Assistant Director and Spokesperson of the NDRSC, M.A.A.D.J.N. Munasinghe, said that payments are yet to be made to a further 169,944 houses.

He added that 469,457 houses, out of a total of 640,375 completely destroyed houses, are eligible to receive the relief allowance provided to support communities in reconstructing and restoring their homes.

Munasinghe confirmed that the government will incur a total cost of Rs. 7,487 billion for this purpose.

Meanwhile, the NDRSC stated that compensation for all other affected sectors, excluding housing damages, will be completed before the end of this month.

Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, K.G. Dharmatilake, said that compensation related to housing damages will be paid during the first month of next year.

He noted that although the relevant circular has not yet been issued, the public has been informed in advance as part of efforts to ensure transparency.

Accordingly, all short-term compensation payments, including those related to agriculture, dairy farming, child welfare, household equipment, and other immediate losses, will be completed by December 31.

However, long-term compensation, such as payments for housing damage, will be carried forward into next year.

Additional Secretary Dharmatilake explained that as the government is entering a new financial year in 2026, all state accounts must be settled before the year ends. 

Therefore, all compensations allocated from the budget must be disbursed by December 31, 2025, in accordance with official financial directives.