December 14, Colombo (LNW): Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi has confirmed that nearly 7,000 individuals remain in temporary relief centres, with efforts underway to resettle them within the next two to three months.

Speaking at a briefing today (14), he revealed that 6,138 homes have been completely destroyed, making immediate resettlement a complex task.

Partial damage assessments conducted by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) will allow families in safe homes to return more quickly once inspections are complete.

Chandrakeerthi noted that the greatest challenge lies with those whose properties were entirely lost, adding that the government has designed a dedicated programme to accelerate their resettlement. District Secretaries have been instructed to identify state-owned land that can be used to accommodate displaced families.

Regarding schools, he confirmed that all institutions are scheduled to reopen on 16 December 2025, except for those currently functioning as relief centres or situated in areas deemed high-risk.

The Commissioner General also reminded the public that any concerns about the distribution of aid or the availability of essential services can be reported through the 1904 hotline.