The Ministry of Defence has directed District Secretaries to expedite the release of disaster relief allocations, after it was revealed that only 30% of the funds disbursed for rehabilitation and reconstruction following Cyclone Ditwah have been utilized to date.

According to the state-owned newspaper Silumina, Treasury reports show that the National Disaster Relief Services Centre released Rs. 86.7 billion between January and July 2026 for compensation payments and infrastructure development in flood‑ and landslide‑affected areas. However, just Rs. 26.4 billion, about 30%, has been spent, leaving Rs. 60.3 billion still unused.

In a letter dated August 12, the Additional Secretary of the Disaster Management Division instructed District Secretaries to ensure the remaining 70% is released to beneficiaries without delay.

The report also highlighted slow progress in resettlement efforts. Of Rs. 1.05 billion allocated for relocating affected families, only Rs. 190 million (18%) had been spent by July 31, leaving Rs. 868 million (82%) unutilized. 

Officials stressed the need to accelerate resettlement programmes and infrastructure development, noting that an additional Rs. 1.94 billion in allocations is expected to be provided.

Meanwhile, immediate relief measures have seen stronger progress. By July 31, 85% of Rs. 7.6 billion released for urgent assistance to disaster‑hit communities had already reached beneficiaries.

Authorities emphasized that timely disbursement of funds is critical to restoring livelihoods and rebuilding infrastructure in areas devastated by Cyclone Ditwah. (Newswire)

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The Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) Board has announced financial assistance of up to Rs. 50,000 for children of active members sitting the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination, under its “Nipunatha Saviya” benefit scheme.

Eligible students may select one course from among 100 vocational training programmes conducted by institutes registered with the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) and recognized at National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) Levels 3, 4, and 5.

The ETF Board emphasized that the assistance is not a loan and does not require repayment. 

The initiative aims to support the creation of a skilled generation, opening up both local and foreign employment opportunities.

Detailed information is available on the ETF Board’s official website. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet has approved a comprehensive program to support communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah, aimed at restoring livelihoods and strengthening resilience in the hardest‑hit districts.

The initiative, proposed by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, focuses on immediate relief and long‑term recovery measures.

Key measures approved:

• Monthly rent support for displaced families without homes is extended from 6 months to 9 months.
• Paddy fields damaged by debris (stones, soil, sand) are to be cleared and prepared for cultivation, based on estimates approved by district agricultural officials.
• Rockfall and landslide‑prone sites are to be stabilized under the Ministry of Defence’s Landslide Mitigation Program, following recommendations of the National Building Research Organization.
• Financial provisions for relief and reconstruction to be allocated directly by the Treasury from disaster relief funds. (Newswire)

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The United Nations has allocated US$4.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to strengthen Sri Lanka’s response to Cyclone Ditwah, which made landfall on 28 November. 

The funds will enable the UN to rapidly scale up emergency food assistance, shelter support, and water, sanitation and hygiene services for the communities most severely affected by the floods and landslides that have impacted the country. 

Communities across Sri Lanka are continuing to grapple with the widespread impacts of the cyclone, with thousands of families still displaced after extensive damage to housing and infrastructure. Even as response efforts are underway, latest assessments indicate that the effects of the cyclone are broader and more severe than initially understood, leaving many communities in urgent need of sustained support to fully recover from Cyclone Ditwah.

“This funding comes at a critical moment for Sri Lanka,” said Marc-André Franche, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka. “Cyclone Ditwah has upended lives across the country, and many families are still struggling to meet their basic daily needs. The UN was quick to provide support with urgent relief items and equipment. We are working closely with the Government, civil society partners and the humanitarian community in Sri Lanka to ensure a coordinated response guided by evidence and priority needs. This emergency funding will help us reach those most severely affected with the support they urgently need.”

The UN’s global emergency fund CERF enables rapid funding to humanitarian responders to help support life-saving, humanitarian activities in the initial stages of a sudden-onset crisis.

As the full scale of the devastation becomes clearer, the UN will expand its life-saving assistance to the hardest-hit communities through a broader Humanitarian Priorities Plan, expected to be announced this week. (Newswire)

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The Government has informed the public and the international donor community that certain contributors have experienced difficulties when transferring funds to the designated Central Bank accounts during the ongoing national relief efforts due to adverse weather.

The President’s Office said that to ensure smooth and uninterrupted receipt of donations, donors facing such issues are advised to direct their contributions in LKR to the following Bank of Ceylon account.

Account Name:

Deputy Secretary to the Treasury 

Account Number: 2026450 

Bank: Bank of Ceylon

In addition, donors who wish to make contributions directly to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s foreign currency accounts may use the details listed below:

Foreign Currency Account Details

1. US Dollar (USD)

Bank: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, New York, USA 

Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka 

Account Number: 04015541 

Routing Number: 021001033 

SWIFT: BKTRUS33XXX

2. Euro (EUR)

Bank: ODDO BHF Bank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany 

Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka 

Account Number: 0000739854 

IBAN: DE39500202000000739854 

SWIFT: BHFBDEFF500

3. Pound Sterling (GBP) – Account 1

Bank: HSBC Bank Plc, London, UK 

Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka 

Account Number: 39600144 

Sort Code: 40-05-15 

IBAN: GB48MIDL40051539600144 

SWIFT: MIDLGB22XXX

4. Pound Sterling (GBP) – Account 2

Bank: Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd, London, UK 

Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka 

Account Number: 88001249 

Sort Code: 40-50-56 

IBAN: GB89BCEY40505688001249 

SWIFT: BCEYGB2LXXX

5. Japanese Yen (JPY)

Bank: MUFG Bank, Tokyo, Japan 

Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka 

Account Number: 653-0407895 

SWIFT: BOTKJPJTXXX

6. Australian Dollar (AUD)

Bank: Reserve Bank of Australia 

Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka 

Account Number: 81736-4 

BSB: 092002 

SWIFT: RSBKAU2SXXX

For further assistance, donors are encouraged to contact the relevant authorities via the established communication channels.

The Government further expressed its sincere appreciation to all individuals, organisations and international partners for their continued generosity and support during this critical period. (Newswire)

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A sum of Rs. 1.2 billion has already been allocated for disaster relief services in Sri Lanka, the Government Information Department said. 

According to the Director General of the Department, H.S.K.J. Bandara, in addition, Rs. 30 billion has been set aside in the 2025 budget for emergency requirements.

During an online discussion held with all District Secretaries, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has informed them to request funds as needed.

The President has further instructed all parties to carry out disaster relief activities efficiently and without any hindrance. (Newswire)

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya today refuted allegations that the government had claimed it would provide 06% to the Education Sector in its first year.

Addressing the Parliament, PM Amarasuriya said that no such promise was made, as it was evident that new policies needed to be implemented to strengthen education institutions. 

“We never said we would give 06% in the first year. There are some fellow members here who have been with us since 2012, calling for education changes; Even then, we never said that 6% should be given at once,” she said. 

Prime Minister Amarasuriya pointed out that providing funds alone would not resolve issues and that policy change was required for this purpose. 

She further revealed that the highest funds for education have been allocated in 2026, which is Rs. 7.04 billion.  

“This year, 2.04% has been allocated, the highest since the past years,” she added. 

PM Amarasuriya’s remarks come in response to questions raised in Parliament regarding her participation in the 2012 protest as a lecturer asking for 06% funding for the education sector. (Newswire)

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The Government has allocated Rs. 01 Million each to all District Secretariat Offices and Divisional Secretariat Offices across the island under the ‘Praja Shakthi’ National Programme. 

According to the President’s Office, this funding is for the procurement of necessary information technology hardware and services, including laptops and computers, as well as for building the related capacity of officers. 

A key ambition of the present government is to modernise the public service to enable the delivery of a more efficient and higher quality service to the public. Consequently, efforts are currently in progress to establish a public service that utilizes digital technology, thereby replacing outdated methodologies and equipment. Furthermore, the government’s expectation is to gradually extend this programme to the entire system of public institutions in all parts of the island, not limiting it to Colombo alone. 

Accordingly, the ‘Praja Shakthi’ National Programme, together with the Ministry of Digital Economy, has arranged for the provision of Rs. 369 million to modernise the district and regional administrative mechanisms. In this manner, this is the first instance where funds have been directly allocated for the development of regional information technology capabilities. Moreover, the government expects to increase the level of direct investment required to enhance the use of information technology in government institutions and to allocate funding for it annually from the budget. 

Furthermore, it is expected that management activities, such as identifying suitable development project proposals to be implemented under the ‘Praja Shakthi’ National Programme and reviewing the progress of those respective projects, will be carried out through a digital platform. The information technology system required for this was launched recently. Through this, the government aims to efficiently implement its rural and regional development programmes and to operate them with transparency, making it accessible to the people. (Newswire)

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The Government of Japan has agreed to provide a grant of 963 million Japanese yen (approximately Rs. 1.94 billion) to improve the productivity of Sri Lanka’s dairy production sector and to assist the official security services of the Sri Lankan Navy. 

As such, the Japanese Government has agreed to provide a grant of 463 million Japanese yen to provide the required equipment and technological assistance to increase the capacity of the Department of Animal Production and Health under the project for the improvement of productivity in the dairy production sector.

The Japanese Government has agreed to provide a grant of 500 million Japanese yen to provide drones for the investigation, surveillance, and monitoring activities of the Sri Lanka Navy under the Official Security Assistance Project to the Sri Lanka Navy. 

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to sign the relevant exchange sheets and other documents related to these projects during his upcoming official state visit to Japan.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, to take further action in this regard. (Newswire)

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The Government of India has committed to providing additional funds for the speedy completion of nine development projects in Sri Lanka in a bid to help uplift the lives of Sri Lankan citizens.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the commitment was made during a meeting between the visiting Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar and President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (Oct 11).

Accordingly, the projects for which additional funds are to be provided are currently supported by the Government of India, while the relevant agreement for this initiative was signed yesterday.

These projects include the modernization of 27 schools in the Northern Province, housing initiatives in Mannar and Anuradhapura, improvements to the Hatton Thondaman Vocational Training Centre and Pussellawa Saraswati Central College, the construction of a multi-ethnic trilingual school in Polonnaruwa, the establishment of 2889 rainwater harvesting projects in the Jaffna area, the promotion of vegetable cultivation in the Dambulla area and the construction of greenhouse facilities with a capacity of 5000 metric tons for fruit preservation. Additionally, a new surgical unit for the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital will be promptly built as part of these efforts.

During the discussion between the two state officials, extensive discussions were also held to further strengthen Indo-Sri Lankan relations, resulting in the signing of three new bilateral agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

The inauguration of the third phase of the housing project, supported by Indian loan assistance, was also conducted during the meeting. While an initial allocation of Rs. 1.026 million had been allocated per unit for the fourth phase, it was necessary to revise the budget to Rs. 2.8 million per unit due to increased housing unit costs.

An agreement concerning a joint project involving the Indian National Dairy Development Board, the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation of India (Amul), and the Cargills Group of Sri Lanka was also signed with the aim of elevating Sri Lanka’s local dairy industry. This agreement emerged as a result of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s official visit to India and the allocation of funding for the modernization of Sri Lanka’s livestock sector.

The primary objective of this new project is to increase milk production by 53% within the first five years and achieve self-sufficiency in milk production for Sri Lanka within 15 years. As part of this endeavour, it is anticipated that approximately 200,000 local farmers will be empowered through the provision of facilities such as high-quality medicines, animal nutrition and technical support.

Furthermore, this initiative encompasses digitalization of the livestock sector, investments in new technologies to enhance the quality of milk-related by-products and ensuring access to milk-related products at affordable prices.

In addition to this significant agreement, a special commemorative logo was unveiled to celebrate the 75 years of Indo-Sri Lankan relations.

Present at the signing ceremony were the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay, Union Secretaries of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Puneeth Agrawal and J. P. Singh, Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr Satyanjal Pandey and Indian Ministry of External Affairs Deputy Secretary Raghu Puri.

From the Sri Lankan side, notable attendees included Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabri PC, Minister Jeevan Thondaman, State Minister Tenuka Widanagamage, Member of Parliament M. Rameswaran, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayaka, Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardena, Director of Presidential International Affairs Dinuk Colombage and other dignitaries. (NewsWire)

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The Asian Development Bank is considering more concessionary funding for Sri Lanka and support for green bond issues as part of its assistance to help the nation recover from the economic crisis, according to Bloomberg News.

ADB Sri Lanka country director Chen Chen said in an interview in Colombo that the Manila-based lender’s immediate priority in 2023 is to continue work on overall economic stability and support the banking and energy sectors. 

“We are also actively working on mobilizing more concessional resources and grant resources to the country,” Chen said. “This will hopefully be part of our assistance in the coming years.” 

ADB is trying to mobilize funds below the already concessional Ordinary Capital Resources facilities that Sri Lanka currently has access to, Chen said.

Last month, Sri Lanka clinched a $3 billion loan program from the International Monetary Fund that is expected to unlock fresh funding and help the island nation begin restructuring its debt after an unprecedented default in 2022. Last year, the World Bank made Sri Lanka eligible for more concessional funds, as the nation sought to ease its debt obligations.

Through 2022, the ADB disbursed around $334 million by re-purposing existing project loans. The lender already has about $3.7 billion of previously approved loans in transport, energy, education, health, social protection, agriculture, and small and medium enterprises, among others, which will be disbursed as projects progress, Chen said.

Sri Lanka is now conducting an asset quality review of banks with ADB’s support, and is discussing reforms to improve governance and financial sustainability for the power sector, Chen said. 

Disruptions to economic activity due to electricity outages last year as the government ran out of dollars to pay for essential imports including fuel, food and medicine, showed that the power sector has a key role to play in Sri Lanka’s stability and future recovery, Chen said.

The ADB is also working with local authorities to prepare the groundwork to sell “green or blue bonds” after economic stability is restored, Chen said.

The lender expects Sri Lanka’s economy will contract by 3% this year and expand by 1.3% in 2024, after shrinking by 7.8% last year. 

“We hope in the long term, the private sector can contribute more to the economy,” Chen said. “We would like to continue discussions with the private sector if there are emerging needs.” (NewsWire)

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