(UTV | COLOMBO) – Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga stated that the distribution of the Rs. 5,000 allowance has been completed in three Police Divisions in the Gampaha district.
Accordingly, the distribution of the Rs. 5,000 allowance to 80,000 families in the Minuwangoda, Divulapitiya and Veyangoda Police Divisions was completed last Friday. The Government had spent Rs. 400 million in this regard.
He was speaking at a meeting held at the Gampaha Divisional Secretariat to control the spread of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Gampaha District Secretary Sunil Jayalath has requested the Ministry of Finance to provide funds to distribute the allowance of Rs. 5,000 to 464,254 families in 15 police areas in which curfew was imposed on October 8. The estimated cost for this is Rs. 2,321,270,000.
Moreover, funds have been requested for 46,008 families in Biyagama, 33,849 in Kelaniya, 46,519 in Wattala, 38,458 in Negombo, 45,503 in Mahara, 32,132 in Dompe, 39,342 in Gampaha, 45,605 in Ja- Ela, 53,581 in Katana, as well as 20, 614 families in 59 Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretariat Division and for 30,603 families in the remaining 118 Grama Niladhari Divisions in Attanagalla.
At present 3,702 families have been directed for self-quarantine in the Gampaha District.
The District Secretary said that essential goods have been provided to these families and to children’s homes, elders’ homes and to a few Pirivenas.
The amount spent on this by the Government is Rs.16 million.
“As of last Friday, 30,613 PCR tests had been conducted in the Gampaha District.
“The number of infected people identified is 1,709 and 3,560 PCR tests have been conducted in hospitals of the district. Of these, 147 have been diagnosed with COVID-19,” health officials said.
At present, 19,061 persons from the Gampaha district are quarantined at quarantine centres. Health officials said that some of them are returning to their houses after the 14-day quarantine process. They are directed for home isolation.