Sri Lanka, Dec. 14 -- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to give top priority to restoring the livelihoods of communities affected by the disaster.

He emphasised the need to expedite compensation payments for damages and to take immediate measures to revive the agriculture, fisheries and industrial sectors. The President directed that all compensation payments for crop damage be completed before December 25. These instructions were issued during a special District Coordinating Committee meeting yesterday (13) at the Puttalam District Secretariat.

President Dissanayake described the recent cyclone as one of the largest disasters the entire country has faced in recent times. He commended the dedicated efforts of t...