Rs. 5 Million Each to Be Granted Under Two Schemes for Fully Damaged Houses
31-Dec-2025.
Compensation of Rs. 5 million will be provided under two schemes for houses completely destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah. Additionally, Rs. 500,000 will be granted without damage assessments for partially damaged houses, with the amount increased up to Rs. 2.5 million based on assessments, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.
He stated that the Government will not forcibly evict affected persons from temporary shelters under any circumstances, and that those who lost homes will be provided facilities for safe resettlement.
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held on 30 Dec at the Government Information Department in Colombo, the Minister further explained:
So far, 6,090 houses have been fully destroyed. Compensation for such houses will be provided under two methods. Under the first method, if residents can safely continue to live on the same land, Rs. 5 million will be granted without a valuation of the house.
Under the second method, if resettlement on the same land is not possible, an additional Rs. 5 million will be provided to purchase alternative land.
Discussions are ongoing with District Secretaries regarding state-owned lands in affected districts. The compensation programme is expected to commence before the end of the first two weeks of January.
For partially damaged houses, compensation of up to Rs. 2.5 million will be provided. An initial Rs. 500,000 will be granted without assessment, with further amounts released following official evaluations.
Those dissatisfied with damage assessments may lodge complaints with Divisional Secretaries or Disaster Management officials.
According to preliminary World Bank estimates, total damages amount to USD 4.1 billion.
A total of 450,225 housing units eligible for the initial Rs. 25,000 relief payment were identified, of which 393,669 have already received payments. Full disbursement has been completed in districts including
Kandy and Ampara, while 80–90 percent coverage has been achieved in other districts.
