Sri Lanka, Dec. 9 -- Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Ministry Secretary D.P. Wickramasinghe said that 131,743 hectares of farmland have been destroyed due to the cyclone.

He said this at a media briefing in Colombo yesterday (08).

He said that among them, there are 108,000 hectares of paddy fields, 6,600 hectares of maize, 2,613 hectares of upland vegetable cultivation, 3,530 hectares of lowland vegetable cultivation and 11,000 hectares of other crops.

Compensation of Rs. 150,000 per hectare of destroyed paddy fields, Rs. 150,000 per hectare for maize and other crops, and Rs. 250,000 for vegetables will be given, he added.

Wickramasinghe also urged farmers to call the hotline 1918 and provide information if there is a del...