Displaced families to receive relief coupons for two more months

Friday, April 1, 2005, 2:20 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Apr 01, Colombo: The Office of the Commissioner General of Essential Services says the government has decided to issue relief coupons to tsunami victims for two additional months.

Families already receiving coupons will be eligible to claim further assistance in this form, sources said.

At present, the Office of the Commissioner General has issued relief coupons at the rate of 32 per family for a period of four months. As announced by the government, 954,110 displaced families will now be given relief for six months. The issue of coupons, which began in February, will continue until July.

The cost of the relief, Rs. 3.6 billion per month, is being borne by the government. The total amount to be spent on relief coupons will be around Rs. 22.6 billion, sources said.

This includes a coupon for Rs. 375 per month per person. From this, one is able to get Rs. 200 in cash. The balance comes in the form of food items.

Khalid