Chief Minister of Uva Province Sashendra Rajapaksa said that he had initiated a programme to find a long term solution for the drought affected people in the Moneragala district.

"I recently convened a meeting of officials of all government institutions and representatives of non-governmental organisations and discussed with them about finding a solution to this problem. A decision was taken at that meeting to rehabilitate and repair minor and medium scale tanks in the district to retain more water during the rainy seasons and distribute it for cultivation during the dry season," he said.

The Chief Minister was addressing a relief distribution held at Wattaram Raja Maha Viharaya in Athimale, Moneragala where the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) distributed relief packs including rice, flour, sugar, dhal and salt to 750 drought affected families in Kotiyagala and Wattegama. He also thanked the Sri Lanka Red Cross for arranging relief distribution.

The recipients said that they had been undergoing severe hardship due to prolonged drought. "Our livelihood is cultivation of maize, paddy, green gram, cowpea and vegetables. We were unable to grow any crop for the third consecutive year because we do not have adequate rains. During the current season we have ploughed our field and chena, bought seeds and are still waiting for rains," said B. Ranjith Kekulan, a 50 year old father of five children. Other beneficiaries also expressed their hardships and thanked the SLRCS for arranging this relief distribution.

During the distribution, President of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Jagath Abeysinghe said that the society implemented a massive post tsunami recovery programme with support of Red Cross movement partners for the benefit of affected communities.

Chairman of Moneragala SLRCS branch Dr. Anura Saman Ekanayake, Minister of Uva Provincial Council Kumarasiri Ratnayake and Chairman of Siyambalanduwa Pradesiya Sabha Chandrapala Weerasinghe also addressed the gathering.