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Rs 56.288 billion allocated for Ditwah relief but thousands still awaiting compensation
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- Documentation and verification processes slowing down payments, say officials
By Ishu Bandara
The Government has allocated Rs. 56.288 billion (as of March 27) toward an empowerment programme to help those affected by Cyclone Ditwah rebuild their lives
Despite the considerable allocation, lakhs of beneficiaries are still awaiting compensation the Sunday Times learnes.
The immediate relief category like house cleaning in the aftermatch of the destruction has seen almost full completion (99.37%),but many are yet to receive compensation in areas that require moredocumentation proof. This includes compensation for loss of life and long term reconstruction such as house repairs.
According to the the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) under the Ministry of Defence, the government has allocated Rs. 45.788 billion for house damages (capital expenditure), including the initial Rs. 600 million and four additional supplementary allocations; Rs. 7.5 billion for emergency relief (recurrent expenditure) which includes an initial Rs. 500 million and two supplementary allocations of Rs. 3 billion and Rs. 4 billion and an additional Rs. 3.0 billion (capital expenditure) for resettlement programmes.
Of the total allocated amount of Rs. 56.288 billion, Rs. 48.323 billion had been released to districts by late March.The released funds include Rs. 41.543 billion for house damage, Rs. 5.867 billion for emergency relief, and Rs. 0.913 billion for resettlement.
A grant of Rs. 25,000 was provided to each household affected by the disaster for cleaning and securing houses. Out of 431,166 eligible recipients, 428,430 (99.37%) have already received payments, totalling about Rs. 10.71 billion.
Rs. 50,000 was given to purchase essential kitchen items and other equipment. So far, 95.01% of the 166,291 eligible beneficiaries have received this payment.
Rupees 1 million each was given as compensation for a life that was lost or for full disability. Up to now, 416 full payments and 261 partial payments have been made, covering 61.65% of the 674 identified cases in this category.
Schoolchildren affected by the disaster were given Rs. 15,000 for books and uniforms. Nearly 90% (178,890) of the 200,209 eligible students have received this support.
For those whose livelihoods were affected, a monthly allowance of upto Rs. 3,000 for three months was introduced, with 68.58% of payments completed.
In addition, families who lost their homes are receiving a monthly rent allowance of up to Rs. 25,000 for six months while waiting for new housing. So far, 80.41% of these payments have been completed.
However, the Sunday Times learns that many are still waiting for payments under the different relief categories.
Under emergency and immediate relief, 2,736 households are to receive the Rs. 25,000 grant for cleaning, essential items, and temporary support. Another 8,293 households have not received the Rs. 50,000 allowance for essential household equipment.
In addition, 21,400 students are still waiting for the Rs. 15,000 support for school books and uniforms. A total of 1,868 families are also awaiting house rent allowances of up to Rs. 25,000 per month while staying in temporary housing.
For livelihood support, 404 individuals whose income was disrupted by the disaster have not yet been paid. Under death and disability compensation (Rs. 1 million), 258 cases are still pending. While 416 beneficiaries have received full payments, another 261 have only been given advance payments and are waiting for the balance.
Under property damage and reconstruction, which involve larger payments, delays are more significant. A total of 113,446 households with partial house damage are still waiting for compensation of up to Rs. 2.5 million for repairs. Meanwhile, 5,790 families whose houses were completely destroyed are still awaiting full payments of up to Rs. 5 million for rebuilding. In the meantime, the Sunday Times learns that the highest number of unpaid beneficiaries are from Kandy, Puttalam, Gampaha and Kegalle districts. In Kandy District, 17,157 households are still waiting for compensation for partial house damage, while 91 death benefit cases remain pending. In Puttalam District, 14,970 students have not yet received student support. In Gampaha District, 5,264 households are still awaiting assistance for household equipment. Meanwhile, in Kegalle District, 952 families are yet to receive house rent support.
When the Sunday Times inquired about the high number of unpaid compensation cases in these districts, District Secretaries said the gap was mainly due to discrepancies between initial emergency damage estimates and final eligibility verifications, as well as delays in documentation and outdated reporting data.
Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta told the Sunday Times that many households have not yet received payments because the initial damage assessments carried out during the emergency did not match later field verifications. He explained that when officials revisited affected areas to verify the extent of destruction, the findings often differed from the original documentation, leading to delays in approvals and disbursements. He also noted that in cases of death benefits, entire families had been wiped out, leaving no eligible claimants to receive the compensation.
The Puttalam District Secretary Indika Silva told the Sunday Times that in 13 Divisional Secretariat divisions, compensation payments have been completed at nearly 100 percent, with delays remaining only in three divisions, Kalpitiya, Puttalam, and Mundalama.
He said the process had slowed down due to ongoing verification and confirmation of beneficiary information to ensure accuracy. He added that the remaining payments are expected to be completed by the first week of April.
Gampaha District Secretary Lalinda Gamage told the Sunday Times that the gap in compensation payments in the district is largely due to claims being rejected after physical inspections revealed that household equipment had not actually been damaged, despite initial reports submitted during the flood period.
“When we went for verification, although people were present when reports were made during the flood week at the Divisional Secretariat, the goods were not actually damaged. If water had entered but no damage occurred, we did not pay the Rs. 50,000 compensation for equipment,” he said.
He also added that 1,150 cases are still under investigation to determine whether any errors were made by officials or in the applicants’ claims.
Kegalle District Secretary H.M.J.M. Herath said that the gap in compensation related to house rent and leasing is mainly due to residents failing to submit the required documentation and delays in obtaining risk assessments from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO). “We gave the opportunity for rent assistance to those whose houses were damaged or located in high-risk areas. They need to bring the relevant details to us. Once they submit them, we make the payment,” he said.
He said that rent assistance can only be provided for houses assessed by the NBRO and officially marked as high-risk areas. “Some areas have not yet been assessed by the NBRO. Even if it is a medium-risk area, we cannot pay; it must be classified as high risk,” he said. The National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC), led by Senior Assistant Secretary Namal Liyanage and other key officials, continues to monitor the disbursement process to ensure that no eligible victim is left behind. The Ministry of Defence has instructed all District Secretariats to strictly follow expenditure guidelines and maintain accurate records of all payments.
While most immediate grants for cleaning and equipment are nearly 100 percent completed, attention has now shifted to more complex areas such as permanent resettlement and full house reconstruction, which require higher funding and longer verification processes, including death and disability claims.
(Please see Sundaytimes.lk for pictures of protests over the delay in receiving compensation)
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