Assessment of Salawa property damage 90% complete

Minister Ravi Karunanayake

There is no financial difficulty in paying compensation for the property that was damaged  due to the emergency situation arising at the Salawa Army Camp, says Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.  The minister points out that compensation was paid to some victims, and if there is a delay in payment, that is due to administrative disputes.  This was revealed by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake during a meeting held at the Finance Ministry recently (15 July),with regard to the payment of compensation to the victims whose property was damaged due to the explosion at the Salawa Army Camp.

Minister of Science and Technology and Research Susil Premajayantha and Disaster Management Minster Anura Priyadarshana Yapa also participated in this meeting.

It was revealed during the meeting that 90% of the damage assessment activities have been concluded. According to the concluded assessment, it has been estimated that a damage of less than one million rupees only had happened to 1,794 property blocks.  A damage of more than one million rupees had been caused to 237 property blocks.  There are about 315 self-employment sites also among the damaged property.

There is no financial difficulty in paying compensation for the damaged property but payment of compensation has been delayed due to some administrative disputes according to Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.  Accordingly relevant compensation could be paid for 50% damaged property out of the total damaged property blocks next week.

Seetawaka Divisional Secretary Yapa Bandara also participated in the meeting.  In addition, a group of residents in the surroundings of the Salawa Army Camp, participated in this meeting representing the victims affected by the explosion.