Sri Lanka, Dec. 20 -- Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe told Parliament yesterday that Cyclone Ditwah caused extensive damage to over 106,800 hectares of paddy fields and the Government is offering farmers a compensation of Rs. 150,000 per hectare for crop losses.

It is estimated that around 80,000 hectares (nearly 235,000 acres) of the flood-damaged paddy fields can be replanted. A compensation of Rs.150,000 per hectare for maize and other field crops will also be provided to cover investments and restoration costs. "Out of the 87,474 hectares of maize, 10,000 hectares have been destroyed.

For other field crops, 2,011 hectares of pea nuts, 1,188 hectares of green chilli and 1,019 ...