Meethotamulla tragedy:
Garbage dump to be cleared within few months :
Houses for those rendered homeless:
President Maithripala Sirisena has given instructions to expedite the resettlement process of the people affected by the collapse of a section of the Meethotamulla garbage dump .
Accordingly, a programme for providing houses for the displaced persons will be implemented from today. Initially, houses will be given to 98 families, whose houses were completely destroyed, the President’s Media Unit said.
The President had made these remarks during a meeting held at the Ministry of Disaster Management yesterday on providing reliefs measures to the victims.
President Sirisena also had instructed officials to provide infrastructure facilities to the affected people while giving priority to the evacuation of people who are in the danger zone around the Meethotamulla disaster area, without delay.
The President had told officials to clear the Meethotamulla garbage dump within the next few months under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Army.
He also had instructed authorities to take immediate steps to halt illegal settlements.
Providing compensations to the victims should be done with extreme vigilance, the President had said.
Also he said that all possible measures should be taken to assist the victims. He had also welcomed the continuing assistance given by all institutions to provide relief to the victims. The next progress review meeting in connection with the Meethotamulla disaster will be held on the 21st April at the Ministry of Disaster Management, the President’s media unit said.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha, Sagala Rathnayaka, Vajira Abeywardena, A.H.M. Fowzie, Chief Minister of the Western Province Isura Dewapriya, Commanders of Tri Forces and the Inspector General of Police attended the discussion.