President announces relief measures for people affected by weather disaster

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that Rs. 10.5 billion has already been released for disaster response, and a Rs. 50 billion supplementary estimate was submitted to further support recovery efforts. Speaking during the 2025 Budget’s third reading, he detailed a wide-ranging relief package;

Displaced Families

• Rs. 25,000 monthly allowance for three months (until Feb 2026) for families relocating to houses.

Rs. 50,000 monthly allowance for families in displacement camps.

Household & Education Support

• Rs. 50,000 one-time grant for essential items for destroyed homes.

Rs. 25,000 total per student (Rs. 15,000 from Treasury + Rs. 10,000 from President’s Fund).

Housing Reconstruction

• Rs. 5 million to rebuild completely destroyed houses.Additional Rs. 5 million for land purchase if original land is lost and no state land is available.

Up to Rs. 2.5 million to repair partially damaged homes.

Agriculture & Livestock Support

• Rs. 200,000 for registered animal farms destroyed.Rs. 150,000 per hectare for damaged paddy and maize.

Rs. 200,000 per hectare for affected vegetable cultivations (re-cultivation basis).

International Assistance

• Government has requested USD 200 million in relief financing from the IMF.

A request has also been made to increase the upcoming USD 341 million IMF tranche expected in February 2026, with discussions underway.