COLOMBO, Jan 8 : Reeling from the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah, the Sri Lankan government will be launching its ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ housing initiative on January 9, under which, the govt will reconstruct the houses of all disaster affected communities as well as provide them compensation for the damages wrought about by the cyclone.
Scheduled to commence on Friday in the Anuradhapura and Kurunegala districts, the inaugural ceremony of the programme will be held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with each house being built at a cost LKR 5million ($16,103), reports state media.
The housing construction programmes for disaster affected families will be held in the areas of Galnewa, Handungama and Rajanganaya Sirimapura in the Anuradhapura District, and in Nikaweratiya, Withikuliyaya Junction and Ridigama Dodamgaslanda in the Kurunegala District.
Ditwah wrought in much destruction in its wake, greatly disrupting transportation, power supply, as well as causing massive damage to many residential and business buildings amid the influx of excessive rainwater, leading to intense floodings causing structural damage to entire building zones, particularly in the upper hill zones of the island nation.
The damages incurred amounted to over $4 billion – aggravating to Colombo’s financial woes which was still recovering from its 2022 bankruptcy – severely hampering its fragile growth, with widespread infrastructure destroyed or badly damaged, while ongoing repair projects too have been stalled.
Additionally, a reported 643 people confirmed dead, displacing 233,000 people, and affecting nearly 10% of the total population, making it one of the country’s worst climate disasters.
(UNI)
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