MEETHOTAMULLA TRAGEDY: 98 FAMILIES TO GET HOUSES INITIALLY

Resettled families to be given Rs. 250,000 for furnishing To clear garbage dumb and expedite resettlement process Compensation to victims to be given with extreme care

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had instructed the relevant authorities to immediately provide houses to 98 families whose houses were completely destroyed due to the collapsing of the section of the Meethotamulla garbage dump.

A resettled family would also be given Rs. 250,000 for furnishing the houses apart from the house given to a family.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Ministry of Disaster Management yesterday on providing relief measures to the victims with the participation of the President, Prime Minister, Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha, Sagala Rathnayaka, Vajira Abeywardena, A. H. M. Fowzie, Chief Minister of Western Province Isura Dewapriya, Commanders of the Tri Forces and the Inspector General of Police.

President Sirisena also instructed the Urban Development Authority to provide houses to the people who were to be evacuated from the danger zone around the Meethotamulla disaster area within the first week of July.

The Valuation Department and other relevant institutes were instructed to submit a valuation report within this week after completing the valuation of the loss caused due to the incident.

The Prime Minister instructed to release funds required to pay compensation for the victims from the treasury without any delay.

President Maithripala Sirisena has given instructions to expedite the resettlement process for the people who are affected by the incident.

The President further instructed to clear the Meethotamulla garbage dump in the next few months under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Army as well as to ban the illegal settlements.

The President further stated that the required activities for providing compensations to the victims should be done with extreme vigilance. He requested the continuance of the assistance given by all institutions to provide relief to the victims.

The next progress review meeting regarding the Meethotamulla disaster will be held on 21st April at the Ministry of Disaster Management.

PIC BY KITHSIRI DE MEL Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who arrived from Vietnam yesterday morning, visited Meethotamulla where a part of the garbage dump collapsed recently killing 32 people.