Sri Lanka, Dec. 19 -- Plantations and Community Infrastructure Minister Samantha Vidyarathna said in Parliament yesterday (18) that 257,479 families affected by the disaster have so far been given Rs. 25,000 as an allowance.

Making his speech in the House while participating in the adjournment debate on the current situation in the country caused by the cyclone, the Minister said that out of all the natural disasters that have befallen the country, this is the worst.

"It has been 22 days since this natural disaster happened. As a new Government, we have faced it and managed it. Although it is a great disaster, we have worked hard and managed it correctly.

We took over a country that was in great economic difficulties. When it faced an ...