The Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake

¶ 01 Temporary bridges were provided. Our Army had bridges; the RDA also had them. They installed temporary bridges. We reviewed our available bridge inventory, identified the necessary locations, and the RDA prepared the required plans. In line with those plans, we constructed the required temporary bridges. We have acted with thorough planning to restore the country to normalcy. We also believe we must go further. Those roads must be made permanent. The RDA has prepared estimates for that. The RDA says that Rs. 190 billion is required to repair the roads under its purview. We are examining how much of that can be met from the funds already allocated and intend to provide any additional funds through this Supplementary Estimate.

¶ 02 Sri Lanka Railways has also suffered substantial damage. That estimate is being prepared very well. Once we receive it, we have planned to provide the necessary allocations.

¶ 03 In particular, regarding the Department of Irrigation, we have identified the damaged locations under that Department as well, and those too must be repaired within the coming year. As a start, although we supplied emergency water for this Maha cultivation season, we cannot continue in that manner. We have selected which irrigation systems must be rehabilitated before the Yala season. We have also prepared plans indicating which irrigation schemes we will rehabilitate before the next Maha season.

¶ 04 Especially, officers of the National Physical Planning Department have worked very diligently to collate information from these departments and have prepared small packages. If anyone is ready to provide assistance, do not scatter it here and there or spend it irregularly; there will be no results. Tell us the amount you can provide, and we will tell you the relevant project that can be accomplished with that money. We will say, “Do this project; it will cost this much.” We expect to receive such assistance. We know our Treasury cannot bear the entire burden. However, a proper, methodical process is necessary. We know that in the past, when aid was given without such a process, the outcomes were not commensurate with the expenditure. Therefore, we are preparing several small packages for assistance. If any benefactor wishes to rebuild two schools, we will prepare a small plan and state the amount required. If someone wishes to help build a hospital, a road, or a bridge, we can even place their name on it. We are planning a package framework to receive such assistance.

¶ 05 Similarly, we have granted the Rs. 25,000 allowance required to clean religious sites, and it has been released. The Hon. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has identified 861 such religious places.