Sri Lanka, Dec. 8 -- Approximately 108,000 hectares of paddy, 6,600 hectares of maize, 6,143 hectares of up-country and low-country vegetables and 11,000 hectares of land used to cultivate other crops have been completely destroyed due to adverse weather conditions experienced in recent days.

Addressing a media briefing held today (08), D. P. Wickramasinghe, the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation noted that the process to provide compensation for the total crop damage has already begun.

Secretary D.P. Wickramasinghe added, a total of 615,000 hectares of paddy were cultivated in the country, of which 108,000 hectares have been completely damaged.

Secretary Wickramasinghe further stated:

"Out of 87,...