The Government has allocated over Rs. 7.3 billion in October to provide relief to the public during the quarantine period in the battle of curbing the spread of the COVID- 19 virus, Director General of Government Information Nalaka Kaluwewa said.
Following the re-emergence of the COVID- 19 virus in the Divulapitiya area, this amount of funds has been allocated by the Government to provide relief for those who are under the quarantine process.
The Director-General of Government Information in a statement yesterday also said that the Treasury also hopes to further allocate the required funds at the request of relevant parties, including Government Agents.
Moreover, funds were allocated to provide relief bags to families who have been quarantined in their own homes and to provide a relief allowance of Rs. 5000 for low-income families.
The Government has spent Rs.2,721.27 million for the Gampaha District, Rs. 2,333.60 million for the Colombo District and Rs. 1,310 million for the Kalutara District to provide the allowance
of Rs. 5,000. In addition, Rs. 469.57 million was allocated to provide the Rs.5000 allowance to low-income families in the Kurunegala District and Rs. 128.39 million to low-income families in Batticaloa District.
Accordingly, the government had spent Rs. 6.9 billion during this period to provide the allowance of Rs. 5,000 to families who lost their livelihoods due to the imposition of curfew.
The government has allocated Rs. 75 million only for the Colombo District in providing dry food bags to families who have been placed under house quarantine. And also, Rs.40 million each for Gampaha and Kalutara districts. The funds allocated for the Kurunegala District is Rs. 24.61 million and Rs.17.86 million for the Galle District to provide dry food bags. The government has also provided Rs. 15.92 million for the Batticaloa District and Rs. 15.60 million for the Nuwara Eliya District.
The total amount allocated for providing dry food bags in 20 districts is Rs. 336.54 million.
Furthermore, the government has provided Rs. 56.16 million to implement the quarantine process in 11 districts.
