🌪️ President Reviews Cyclone Ditwah Relief Efforts Across Districts 🇱🇰

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake toured Kandy, Matale, Anuradhapura, and Kurunegala over the weekend, assessing Cyclone Ditwah's impact and expediting relief. Key directives and updates: • Kandy: Directed officials to accelerate road, water, and electricity restoration, aiming for temporary repairs within 25 days. Water supply to be fully restored in 3 days, electricity by December 31. Emphasised rapid compensation for damaged paddy and vegetable lands and a long-term plan for the Central Highlands. • Matale: Reviewed restoration of infrastructure, stressing accurate data for farmer compensation. Urged urgent drinking water restoration, closing telecom gaps, and reopening schools by December 16. Over 11,000 people affected. • Anuradhapura: Instructed officials to prepare damaged paddy lands for re-cultivation before the Maha season. Compensation lists and funding due by Friday, with provisional water supply arranged. Electricity and water connections are near-total restoration. • Kurunegala: Announced strengthened laws against unauthorised construction and a new legal-policy unit under the Reconstruction Presidential Task Force. All damaged Provincial and Local Council roads to be repaired within two weeks. 12,729 hectares of paddy land damaged, with 7,215 hectares still cultivable. Temporary water supply and timely seed/fertiliser distribution pressed. Across all districts, the President reiterated the need for strong coordination, timely data, and rapid payments to restore livelihoods. A Rs. 10 million donation from North Western Provincial cooperative groups was received.