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| Sunday, 13 March 2005 |
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Distorted news discredits the government - FM by Rohan Mathes Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama refuting media reports to the contrary, reiterates that post-tsunami re-building plans of the government are well managed and a model in disaster management to the rest of the world. Minister Amunugama in an exclusive interview to the Sunday Observer at his ministry claimed that the media, due to ignorance or otherwise, and with sinister political agendas is deliberately distorting the 'down to earth' situation of relief work carried out to discredit the government. The Minister displaying a tabulated sheet which contained all relevant information of the tsunami victims and their relief related data to date, said, "We have a well-coordinated and managed mechanism to re-build the tsunami affected areas in the South and the North-East, in par with the highest standards of handling similar situations in the world. The Japanese delegation of ministers who were aware of the system were highly impressed and affirmed that not even in Japan had they such an efficient mechanism in place for similar situations. The media is suppressing the real facts, despite the number of media briefings and seminars given to them by his ministry officials and other related NGO organisations". He explained that as per their records upto March 6, 179,479 families have been affected by the tsunami, out of which 168,232 have received Rs.453 million already from the government, via the state banks. They all possess individual bank accounts and have been beneficiaries of Rs. 2,500, Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 7,500, as appropriate. In areas like Mullaitivu, 3738 have reported to the Government Agent, as recipients of the funds. 17346 have received assistance in Kalmunai. The reporting is via the Grama Sevakas, AGA's and the GAs of the respective districts. "All statistics are collected and tabulated on a daily basis before 10 am. Anyone interested in obtaining classified information on any individual of any of the tsunami-stricken districts in the country, could have it in just half an hour. I throw an open challenge to the media on this", he quipped. The Government has well laid-out plans and identified the priority areas of re-construction. 178 schools, about 30 hospitals and 60,000 houses are some of them. NGO's such as OXFAM, Red Cross, Hettigoda Industries and some philanthropists have pledged to take over certain projects privately. Some friendly countries have also pledged to do so. |
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