Oversight Committee Pushes for Action After Ditwah

COLOMBO (News 1st); A high‑level parliamentary oversight committee has turned its attention to the damage caused to Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector and environment by Cyclone Ditwah, while also reviewing the measures being implemented to restore affected areas to normalcy.

The issue came under discussion when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture, and Sustainable Resource Management convened under the chairmanship of MP Hector Appuhami.

Senior officials representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies were in attendance.

During the session, the Chairman inquired whether each ministry had prepared a detailed report containing data and assessments related to the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Officials confirmed that such reports had been compiled and that assessments of the losses were already underway.

According to a parliamentary statement, after the data was presented, the Chairman questioned the officials about the compensation process, specifically, the provisions for compensation and the basis on which such compensation would be calculated.

Officials from the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure explained that compensation payments would only be made after submitting a Cabinet memorandum for approval. Due to this requirement, they noted that they were unable to present complete compensation figures at this stage.

The Committee stressed the importance of establishing a formal and streamlined mechanism for distributing compensation to affected individuals and communities. It further issued instructions to expedite the compensation process, emphasizing the urgent need to support those impacted by the cyclone.