Nearly 50,000 affected by adverse weather

Nearly 50,000 people have been affected by the adverse weather affecting most parts of the country.

The Disaster Management Centre said that 45,091 people from 11,387 families have been affected as of this afternoon.

The families are from the Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Matara and Gampaha Districts.

Meanwhile,?President Maithripala Sirisena today instructed the relevant officials to take swift measures to provide relief to those who have been affected by the severe weather conditions.

The President also instructed officials to obtain the assistance of the armed forces for the relief operations.

The President had a discussion at the Presidential Secretariat today with the relevant officials on the relief operations.

As it was forecast that the showery weather will continue at least for two months the President noted the importance of working strategically with the coordination of all the sectors and the relevant ministries to face the situation.

Furthermore, the President pointed out the need of managing the relief programmes without any hindrance during the upcoming Presidential Election period.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Ministry pointed out that the Ministry had launched a programme to supply drinking water to people affected by a drought in 15 districts.

Minister of Disaster Management Ranjith Maddumabandara, Secretary to the President Udaya R. Seneviratne, Defence Secretary General Shantha Kottegoda, Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management, public servants, the Chief of the Defence Staff, tri-forces commanders, Acting IGP and others participated in the meeting.