Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the state machinery should reduce the time it consumes to pay compensation to victims of natural disasters. 

"The divisional secretariats, district secretariats and other local administration agencies should offer a faster service," the Prime Minister stressed, while addressing an event where he distributed compensation to some victims in the Galle district. 

"The full amount should be paid at once. That is absolutely important," the Prime Minister stressed.

"A lot of time is consumed to conduct assessments. We have now introduced a way to conduct speedy assessments and provide relief to those who are in need," the Prime Minister said. 

"It is the people who should be empowered. That is the main objective of the government," the Prime Minister explained. 

He asserted that all state officials who are involved in the relief process should consider this objective more seriously.