GALLE: Commissioner of Local Government, Southern Province K. A. Keertiratna, said 90 local government institutions were damaged by the tidal wakes in the Southern, Western, Northern, and Eastern Provinces. There are 311 local government institutions throught the island.

Out of 42 total government institutions in the South 17 have been destroyed, the cost of the damage being Rs. 450 million, Mr. Keertiratna said.

The Chief Minister, Southern Province Shan Wijelala de Silva has requested the local government ministry to provide Rs. 31.5 million to pay the salaries of the employees.

In the meantime a long term development plan has been launched to rebuild the damaged local government institutions.