The President emphasized that a combined mechanism with the coordination of Local Government and Home Affairs Ministry, Divisional Secretaries and other officials should be put in place with immediate effect.

The government has distributed Rs.18 million among the District Secretaries of the affected areas to provide relief to flood victims. They are provided with cooked meals and the government in coordination with the World Food Programme has arranged to provide victims with dry rations.

Over 270,000 people have been affected by the floods caused by torrential rain. The Western Province has experienced 340 mm rain during the past few days.

Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, and Kegalle districts have been hit with heavy rains and floods. Many roads in these areas are under water.

President Rajapaksa emphasized that stern action needs to be taken against unauthorized dwellings and Local Government bodies should implement the Government’s policy to ensure that no low lying lands are filled in their areas.

He added that swift action should be taken on the health issues arising out of floods in the urban and suburban areas.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was also instructed by the President to forward a complete plan in relation to constructions in the urban and suburban areas in the future. He stressed the need of rehabilitating all tanks which are in a dilapidated condition in accordance with the old irrigational plan of the country.

Disaster Relief Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Health Minister Mithripala Sirisena, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena and Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha also attended in this meeting.

Meanwhile, the Met Department says the rainy weather conditions developed due to a depression in the lower atmosphere over the island will continue tomorrow as well. This unusual weather pattern has also caused by the activation of south-western monsoon.