Govt. disburses Rs. 106mn relief to industries hit by Cyclone Ditwa

The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development has launched a key recovery programme to restore industries disrupted by the severe weather conditions and nationwide impact of Cyclone Ditwa. As an initial step towards stabilisation, the government has approved a one-time financial grant of Rs. 200,000 per industrial unit to support the revival of affected businesses.

In the first phase, the Ministry has released Rs. 106.2 million to assist 531 registered industrialists identified and verified at divisional secretariat level. The funds have been channelled to the district secretariats of Gampaha, Colombo, Mannar, Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, Kegalle, Monaragala, Badulla, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura and Anuradhapura for immediate distribution.

The relief initiative follows an extensive data collection exercise carried out by the Ministry, which identified nearly 10,000 industrialists across the island who suffered full or partial damage as a result of the cyclone.

“Our objective is to ensure the stability and continuity of the country’s industrial sector,” the Ministry said, adding that several projects are already under way to support those affected by the natural disaster.

Beyond immediate financial assistance, the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development is formulating a long term mechanism to strengthen the industrial sector.

The initiative is aimed at equipping businesses with the capacity and infrastructure needed to withstand future natural calamities, contributing to a more resilient economic landscape for Sri Lanka.