Sri Lanka, Dec. 9 -- Highlighting that the latest estimates have suggested that the total losses cost by the recent cyclonic storms could be as high as USD 6 billion, the United National Party (UNP) said the practicality of the relief package announced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is questionable.
Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who came up with this argument during a media briefing said the government will have to spend almost Rs 1.8 billion to provide Rs. 25,000 to clean up affected houses, given that 67,505 houses have been affected while another Rs. 3.4 billion has to be allocated to implement the payment of Rs. 50,000 to purchase essential items for kitchens.
"A sum of Rs. 312 million has to be allocated to provide Rs. 25,000 as payment of rent for three months to those who want to leave the temporary shelters," he said.
Further, he said the compensation offered to farmers for the destroyed crops is also impractical as a sum of Rs. 7 billion will be needed as 510,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed. A sum of Rs. 44 billion will be needed to provide Rs. 50,000 each to the families that have lost their livelihoods. A sum of Rs. 20 billion will be needed to pay compensation to vegetable farmers, while Rs. 20 billion will also be needed to provide compensation for the destruction of livestocks. A sum of Rs. 200 million will be needed to rebuild small and medium enterprises. In addition, a sum of Rs. 5 billion will be needed to pay for those whose business locations have been destroyed. Another Rs. 2.5 billion will be needed to provide stationery for school children.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.