A clarification has been issued regarding reports claiming that compensation cheques issued for houses that were destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah cannot be encashed.

Anuradhapura District Secretary Ranjith Wimalasuriya noted that when the relevant cheques are issued, homeowners must enter into a formal agreement with the respective Divisional Secretaries, after which the progress of house construction must be inspected.

The compensation programme for houses that were destroyed due to the Cyclone Ditwah in the Anuradhapura District was launched recently under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Responding to the claims, the District Secretary reiterated that agreements between homeowners and Divisional Secretaries are mandatory at the time of cheque issuance, and that the construction progress of the houses must subsequently be monitored.

He further stated that all affected houses are subject to full supervision, and that field officers will visit the sites to inspect construction progress, following which funds for housing construction will be released through banks.

Accordingly, compensation payments amounting to Rs. 2 million per house are currently being processed. He noted that land ownership of the beneficiaries is being verified and agreements are being finalized, after which the funds will be released in installments.

The District Secretary also confirmed that agreements have been reached with banks to facilitate these payments and emphasized that fund disbursements will take place under a strict monitoring mechanism, warning that failure to follow due process could result in complications during future audit inquiries.

While acknowledging that delays have occurred in certain areas, he stressed that there is no issue regarding the availability of funds, and assured that all payments will be released through a proper, transparent monitoring process.