COLOMBO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is currently stepping up the restoration of public venues damaged in the recent adverse weather by introducing national programs and delivering monetary support.
The country's Ministry of Education on Friday launched a nationwide program aimed at rebuilding and repairing schools impacted by Cyclone Ditwah.
According to Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewe, more than 1,506 schools across the island have been affected by the disaster.
Separately, the country's Cabinet of Ministers on Thursday approved an allowance of 25,000 rupees (about 83 U.S. dollars) to each religious site affected by the adverse weather for cleaning and restoration work.
The monetary assistance was first announced by Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Sri Lanka's Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, on Dec. 8. He noted that the cyclone and floods had damaged 379 Buddhist shrines, 165 temples, 63 Christian churches and 157 Muslim mosques. ■