Colombo: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called on officials to prioritize immediate relief for people in disaster-stricken areas by gathering information directly on-site, rather than relying solely on technological data. The President stressed the importance of establishing a grassroots-level mechanism to ensure efficient relief distribution.

According to News.LK, these directives were issued during a discussion at the Presidential Secretariat with state officials, aimed at expediting relief services for disaster-affected populations. The President highlighted the necessity of providing affected individuals with secure shelter, essential food, water, and sanitary facilities, and directed authorities to allocate adequate funds for these relief efforts.

The meeting paid particular attention to the Northern and Eastern Provinces, which are severely impacted by adverse weather conditions. President Dissanayake also urged education officials to consider the mental well-being and challenges faced by stud
ents sitting for the Advanced Level examination during this period.

Furthermore, the President underscored the need to identify and assist fishermen currently at sea to ensure their safe return. He emphasized delivering high-quality services to those affected and conducting follow-up investigations to gather comprehensive information regarding the impact on local populations.

The discussion was attended by several key figures, including Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Mr. Ananda Wijepala, and other senior officials from various government departments.