Government decided to provide more relief to flood victims

Minister Rishad Badiudeen says steps have been taken to provide more relief to those affected by floods.
He said the Government has set aside 50 million rupees to grant immediate flood relief work in the affected districts.
Twenty deaths have been reported so far with some person missing. A total of 91,976 families and over 400,000 people have been rendered homeless. The displaced persons have been housed in 116 welfare camps.
The Disaster Relief Services Ministry has allocated 29 million rupees for flood-stricken areas. The Government also undertook to meet the funeral expenses of those who lost their lives.
As water borne diseases pose a major problem the Japan International Cooperation Agency has donated a water purifying machine worth 17 million rupees to flood affected areas.
Meanwhile the government announced on Friday a special programme will be implemented to guarantee public health safety in the districts affected by recent floods.
One of the major objectives is to prevent the sale of food items unsuitable for human consumption.
Director of the Food Control Unit of the Ministry of Health P. Madanasinghe says it has been reported that certain businessmen have failed to maintain proper hygienic conditions in business places subjected to floods.
He also points out strict instructions have been given to the public health inspectors through provincial health directors to apprehend such businessmen and to take action against them under the food act.