🚨 President AKD reviews post-Ditwah recovery in Mannar & Puttalam 🇱🇰

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited Mannar and Puttalam districts to assess disaster recovery efforts and expedite relief for communities affected by the recent Ditwah disaster. • In Mannar: • Focus on fishing communities: ~12,000 fishermen impacted by floods, unable to fish. Government to provide dry rations and engage Chinese Embassy for fishing gear donation. • Flood Control: Instructions to proceed with a permanent flood control project after studies. • Housing: 70 families lost homes; committee to identify resettlement land within two weeks. • Illegal Encroachments: Strict action against obstructions in Yodha Wewa sanctuary. • Assistance: Rs. 15,000 for schoolchildren to be disbursed promptly. • Infrastructure: Discussions on restoring health services, education, roads, bridges, water, and electricity. • In Puttalam: • Livelihoods: Top priority to restore agriculture, fisheries, and industrial sectors; expedite compensation. • Housing: 627 houses completely destroyed, 20,813 partially damaged. • Completely destroyed: Rs. 5 Mn for land purchase (if no Govt. land) and new houses valued at Rs. 5 Mn. • Infrastructure: Expedite reconstruction of damaged highways and bridges. Temporary bridge for Lower Kala Oya to support tourism. • Agriculture: Ensure conducive environment for Maha cultivation, compensation before Dec 25. Soil conservation in Kalpitiya. • Livestock: Fair compensation, introduce legislation for farm registration. • Fisheries: Assistance for boat repairs and concessional loans for prawn farmers. • Health: Chilaw Hospital operations expected to resume next week. President Dissanayake emphasized protecting fishing community rights, accelerating compensation payments, and ensuring future infrastructure projects deliver tangible economic benefits.