The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government have signed loan agreements for a $200 million project to support reconstruction and livelihood recovery following Cyclone Ditwah, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development said.
The Post-Cyclone Ditwah Reconstruction and Livelihood Support Project will be implemented from 2026 to 2030 and will focus on rebuilding damaged infrastructure, restoring livelihoods and strengthening resilience against future climate-related disasters.
The project will finance the rehabilitation and reconstruction of cyclone-damaged roads, restoration of damaged irrigation systems, agricultural livelihood assistance for affected families and housing restoration grants for households impacted by the cyclone.
The Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development will serve as the executing agency, with implementation divided into three main components.
The Road Development Authority will oversee the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged road infrastructure, while the Irrigation Department and Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka will handle the restoration of damaged irrigation systems.
The Department of Agrarian Development will provide agricultural support, while the National Disaster Relief Services Centre will be responsible for housing assistance to affected households.
The loan agreements were signed at the Treasury in Colombo on Tuesday (18) by Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, on behalf of the government, and Shannon Cowlin, Country Director of the ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission, on behalf of the ADB. (Newswire)