A fast-track compensation plan promises immediate financial relief to thousands of families affected by Cyclone Ditwah, with the government opting for speed over lengthy damage assessments to avoid year-long delays.
The government has decided to provide Rs. 5 million per house to families whose homes were damaged by the recent disaster, without conducting individual damage assessments, according to Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala. The decision is aimed at ensuring timely housing compensation for affected communities.
The Minister made this announcement while addressing an awareness meeting of the Praja Shakthi program held at the Kobeigane Divisional Secretariat. He explained that the government had already taken steps to release basic financial assistance even before issuing formal circulars, prioritizing immediate disaster relief for homeowners impacted by Cyclone Ditwah.
He noted that more than 120,000 houses were partially damaged, and carrying out detailed assessments for each could take nearly a year. Such delays, he warned, would severely affect families waiting for housing support and reconstruction assistance.
“If a formal assessment is carried out, relief for the affected people may be delayed by about a year. Therefore, to ensure timely relief, the government has decided to provide a fixed amount of Rs. 500,000 to each affected household without an assessment,” the Minister said.
However, he clarified that this option is not mandatory. Homeowners who believe their losses exceed the fixed amount may request a formal damage assessment and opt out of the simplified scheme. In such cases, compensation will be provided based on the assessed value of the damage.
The Minister emphasized that if a house is assessed at Rs. 2.5 million or Rs. 5 million, the government is prepared to pay the full amount, reinforcing its commitment to fair and transparent disaster compensation.
