PM UPDATED ON DISASTER SITU REGULARLY: GAYANTHA

PM calls for situation reports every six hours

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private visit to the US was unavoidable and had been planned a couple of months earlier and therefore, he had no option but to undertake it, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Gayantha Karunatilaka said, adding that the visit was necessitated for a medical checkup.

Minister Karunathilaka said Mr. Wickremesinghe had instructed the relevant Ministers and officials to keep in touch with him round the clock to appraise him on the flood situation and called for situation reports every six hours.

“The Premier also advises Ministers and officials regularly from the US on flood relief operations,” Minister Karunathilaka added. Minister Karunathilaka said if Mr. Wickremesinghe did not undertake this visit, he would have to wait for several months to reschedule it.

Commenting on certain media reports about Mr. Wickremesinghe’s visit to the US at a time when the country was trying to come to terms with a devastating flood and landslides, Minister Karunathilaka said Premier Wickremesinghe held several rounds of talks with Ministers and officials and gave clear instructions on how to face the unprecedented natural disaster before he left.

“Before his departure to the US, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe met President Maithripala Sirisena. He told ministers and officials not to let circulars, Financial or Administrative regulations hamper flood relief operations. It was in one of these meetings that the Central Bank was directed to release Rs. 2 billion to commercial banks to launch a soft loan scheme for flood victims,” Minister Karunathilaka said.