All set to minimise rain-related calamities | Daily News

All set to minimise rain-related calamities

Minister Duminda Dissanayake addressing the journalists. Picture by Siripala Halwala
Minister Duminda Dissanayake addressing the journalists. Picture by Siripala Halwala

Irrigation, Water Resources Management and Disaster Management Ministry will implement two-week public awareness campaign on minimising impacts of floods, landslides and other dangers during the Southwest monsoon rain in coming days.

Irrigation, Water Resources Management and Disaster Management Minister Duminda Dissanayake addressing the journalists at a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday said an awareness campaign will be held between May 21 and June 3 under the theme, ‘Preparation before danger.’

He said lives and properties can be saved by 50 percent with proper planning.

He said the public awareness should be raised on disasters and how to face them with minimum danger to the lives and properties.

Accordingly, national level committees to respond any emergency situation and district and regional level disaster management committees will be convened during the two-week awareness campaign.

“The country has 12 high risk districts including Galle, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Puttalam, Matara, Kegalle, Gampaha, Badulla, Hambantota, Colombo, and Kandy. We will implement disaster drills in Kalutara,Kegalle, Galle and Ratnapura,” the Minister said.

He said 15,000 families live in high risk areas of the districts and a special programme is set to construct new houses for them in safe places.

“We have already resettled over 1,600 families in the Kegalle district. The people are advised to reach an alternative areas once the warning is given by the DMC. They were advised to have a disaster rational pack including all their important documents when they leave their places,” the Minister said.

“Each District Secretaries has been given Rs. 1 million to be used during any emergency situation.We have introduced the hotline 117 to inform the DMC any disasters,” he said.

 


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