Data collection initiated to assess Ditwah’s impact

• Meeting with Prez to determine possible grant support for affected biz 
• Decision cannot be made until full data on SME damage is collected: Ministry 
• IDSC launched to gather impact details by 16 Dec.

The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development has begun collecting data to assess the extent of Cyclone Ditwah’s impact on local industries as it considers providing grants to affected businesses.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Secretary J.M. Thilaka Jayasundara revealed that the ministry would be meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss the possibility of providing grants to all businesses affected by the fallout from cyclone. 

However, she noted that before reaching any decision, the ministry would need to gather information to determine the extent of the climate disaster’s impact on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

“We are still collecting information; we cannot make a decision without having the information,” she stated.

She further revealed that the exact amount of the grant to be provided would be determined at the meeting with the President.

The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development has launched a mechanism called the Industry Disaster Support Centre (IDSC) to collect data on industries affected by Cyclone Ditwah, urging industrialists to submit information on the damage borne by facilities by 16 December.

The ministry has also requested that affected industrialists provide information to the data system as quickly as possible. The collection of necessary information for this data system is scheduled to be completed by 2 p.m. on 16 December.

The information is to be entered through the IDSC web portal on www.industry.gov.lk.

Source: The morning