The government has provided more than Rs. 7.3 billion (Rs 7355.53 million) to provide relief to the people in the quarantine process to control the Covid-19 virus outbreak, the Government Information Department said today.

“These funds have been allocated for the above activities up to now after the Covid-19 virus was reported in the Divulapitiya area again,” it said.

In addition, the Treasury also hopes to allocate further funds as necessary at the request of relevant parties, including Government Agents.

These funds have been allocated to provide relief packs to families quarantined in their own homes and to provide a relief allowance of Rs. 5,000 to low income families in areas where quarantine curfew has been enforced.

An amount of Rs.2721.27 million has been allocated for the Rs.5000/- relief allowance in the Gampaha District. Rs. 2333.60 million has been allocated for the Colombo District and Rs. 1310 million has been allocated for the Kalutara District for this purpose. An amount of Rs.469.57 million has been allocated for the families in need of relief in Kurunegala District and an amount of Rs. 128.39 million has been allocated for the Batticaloa District.

Accordingly, the government has allocated Rs. 6.9 billion (6962.83 million) during this period to provide an allowance of Rs. 5,000 to families who have lost their livelihoods due to the quarantine curfew.

In the process of providing dry ration packs to the families under home quarantine, a sum of Rs. 75 million has been allocated for the Colombo District. Gampaha and Kalutara districts are provided with Rs. 40 million each. A sum of Rs. 24.61 million has been provided for Kurunegala District and Rs .17.86 million was provided for Galle District. The amount allocated for the Batticaloa District with this purpose is Rs.15.92 million and the amount provided for the Nuwara Eliya District is Rs. 15.60 million. The government has spent a total of Rs. 336.54 million to provide dry ration packs to families under home quarantine in 20 districts.

In addition the government has provided Rs. 56.16 million to implement quarantine related activities in 11 districts.