Youth Affairs and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayaka had expressed his dismay over delays in paying compensation to flood victims in the Matara district last year. 

The Minister had ordered divisional authorities in Pasgoda, Pitabeddara and Kotapola to pay all compensation before June 09. 

He had said the local authorities and officials should apologise to the public over delays in paying compensation. 

He said the officials should be ashamed for failing to pay compensation until the people in the area faced a similar crisis this year as well. 

The compensation for flood victims in the Matara district was approved following a Cabinet paper presented by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.