Hon. Governor of the Northern Province N. Vethanayahan paid a direct visit to the disaster-affected Mannar District on Tuesday – 02 December 2025. He met and held discussions with victims of the area and personally inspected the damaged areas. Stating that the necessary financial allocations have been provided for the people to return to normal life, the Governor directed the provincial administration officials to carry out relief and reconstruction works without any delay.
The Governor first visited the Kalliyadi G.T.M School where people from villages including Koorai and Aathimoddai, falling under the Manthai West Divisional Secretariat division of Mannar District, have been accommodated. The Manthai West Divisional Secretary, Mr. Aravindaraj, also accompanied him.
The Governor interacted with people who had taken refuge on rooftops and trees during the floods and were later rescued by security forces. During this meeting, the people alleged that defects in the irrigation canal project for the Koorai Tank were the cause of this disaster. The Governor assured them that appropriate measures would be taken to prevent such situations in the future.
Furthermore, the people expressed concern that all their land deeds had been destroyed in the floods. In response, the Governor stated that steps would be taken to re-issue the original documents in the future using office copies.
The people pointed out that even though the floodwater had receded, the ‘Kaddaduvayal – Ramayankulam’ Road, which connects their villages, had been severely damaged. The Governor personally visited and inspected the road and observed that many sections of the asphalt road had been completely washed away by the floods.
He immediately contacted the Provincial Director of the Northern Province Road Development Department and instructed that, since transportation facilities are essential for people to return to normalcy, the road should be temporarily repaired and made available for public use without delay.
The Governor also met pregnant mothers who were rescued by the Navy from Silavathurai, had no change of clothes, and were accommodated at the Mannar District Hospital. He distributed relief packages containing clothes and essential items purchased with financial assistance from the Mannar District Secretariat Welfare Society.
A special discussion was held with the secretaries of local authorities at the Mannar District Secretariat. During this meeting, the Governor issued the following key instructions:
• Necessary funds have been allocated as requested by the local authorities.
• Works such as cleaning public wells, cleaning flood-affected areas, and promptly burying dead livestock must begin immediately.
• As dead livestock are in a state of decomposition and could explode, causing health hazards, extra attention must be paid to these tasks.
• If there is a shortage of staff or equipment, permission has been granted to procure them immediately on a contract basis and proceed with the work.
• Damaged roads should be temporarily repaired, and estimates should be prepared and submitted for permanent reconstruction later.
The Governor also visited St. Sebastian RCTM School in Sooriyakaddaikaddu, where people from the Mullimoddai Grama Niladhari Division have been accommodated. These people, who were rescued by boat, expressed fear about their future as their homes and livelihood (livestock) had been completely submerged and destroyed.
He then inspected the Nanaddan – Mutharippu road, which was severely affected by the overflow of the Malwathu Oya. As floodwater had not fully receded, the Governor travelled by tractor to assess the situation along with the District Secretary and officials. He directed that sand deposits caused by the floods in the Arugamkundu area be removed immediately to restore transportation.
Travelling through the Madukkarai road under the Nanaddan Divisional Secretariat division, the Governor inspected the damages and met the people. The residents pointed out that the lack of a proper bridge in the required location was the reason for the flood damage. They also requested urgent drinking water and medical facilities. The Governor instructed the District Secretary to immediately arrange drinking water and medical facilities.
Finally, the Governor held discussions at the Nanaddan Divisional Secretariat with the Deputy Director General (Planning) of the Ministry of Health, the Provincial Director of Health Services, and the Director of Mannar Hospital. The District Secretary informed that solutions are being found for the issues faced by hospitals due to power and communication disruptions.
The Governor stressed to all officials that priority must be given to essential works required for the people to return to normal life.
