The Cabinet has approved a drought-relief pack worth Rs. 5,000 per affected family.

Accordingly, the drought relief pack will be given in two instalments of Rs. 25, 00 each.

This was decided at a Cost of Living meeting held at the Ministry of Finance today.

Over one million people in17 districts have been affected by the drought in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile the special commodity levies on a number items have been reduced; the special duty on imported rice was reduced from Rs. 5 per kilo to 25 cents. 

The levy on imported fish was reduced from Rs. 75 to Rs. 25.

The levy on maize was reduced from Rs. 70 to Rs. 10 while the cess of wheat flour was reduced by Rs. 10 a kg and wheat reduced by Rs. 3 per kg.