A discussion on providing alternative lands to the victims of floods and landslides was held today (June 26) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The details on the land requirements and the identified alternative lands in the districts of Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Colombo and Gampaha were presented to the President by the District Secretaries at the meeting.

The President directed the officials to use the government lands for this purpose as much as possible. He advised them to take private lands from plantation corporations only when sufficient state lands are not available.

He also directed them to expedite the required activities through the discussions with a committee consists of the ministers of lands, disaster management, plantation and housing.

The President thanked the representatives of private plantation corporations for their participation in this discussion, and their cooperation by providing their lands for the process of resettlement of landslide victims in Aranayaka.

Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Sajith Premadasa, Naveen Dissanayaka and Gayantha Karunathilaka were among those joined in this discussion.