Rs. 900 Mn alocated as drought aid

Colombo (News 1st) - President Maithripala Sirisena speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a programme to renovate dilapidated tanks in Mahawilachchiya today (September 21) stated that Rs. 900 Mn has been allocated to provide aid to those affected by the drought in the country. The programme to renovate 2400 tanks will be carried out with the assistance of the Engineering Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. President Maithripala Sirisena speaking at the event stated that people in the villages continue to suffer from a lack of water despite the presence of hundreds of officials at grama niladhari and local government level. He stated that it is the fault of everyone as a whole for these tragic incidences which people in rural areas face. The President in his speech stated that nobody should starve under his rule and that he apologises for the difficulties people face. 2500 land deeds were presented to the locals in Anuradhapura district as a part of the programme awarding 100,000 land deeds to residents of the Mahaweli. President Maithripala Sirisena also offered clean water from 500 reverse osmosis plants constructed in the area at a cost of Rs. 800 Mn to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya. Parallel to this event, the President declared the 500th reverse osmosis plant open. Which was constructed at an "aranya" in Mihinthalaya. President Maithripala Sirisena also launched a free transportation service programme for kidney and cancer patients conducted by the Siril Dharmawardene foundation at the Anuradhapura hospital. A group including the chairman of the Siril Dharmawardena foundation Binara Dharmawardene attended the event.