The government is set to establish a statutory body to manage a special fund, beginning with a Rs. 500 billion supplementary estimate that will be presented to Parliament next month. This initiative aims to launch a comprehensive rebuilding plan following Cyclone ‘Ditwah’, which left more than 600 people dead, 213 missing, and over 75,000 houses fully or partially damaged.
According to officials, the new law will create a statutory authority responsible for overseeing infrastructure reconstruction, housing development, fundraising efforts, road and railway sector development, and social and cultural restoration projects.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told the Sunday Times that Cabinet approval has been granted to draft the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ bill, which will also establish a task force for the initiative.
He said the government intends to begin reconstruction using existing funds, while anticipating additional financial support from the international community and upcoming fundraising programmes.
Minister Wijepala noted that although various accounts are currently receiving donations, all funds are ultimately being transferred to a Treasury account until the statutory body is formally established.
The move follows President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s announcement in Parliament on Friday that a further Rs. 50 billion supplementary estimate will be submitted this month to support ongoing relief efforts.
Meanwhile, search and clearing operations continued yesterday in several districts, supported by the security forces, volunteers, and local residents. The Disaster Management Centre has revised the death toll to 611, with 213 people still reported missing. More than two million individuals have been affected, and over 100,000 remain in welfare camps.
Kandy has been identified as the most affected district, recording 232 deaths and 81 missing, with 1,800 houses fully damaged and 13,000 partially damaged.
President Dissanayake visited Kandy yesterday and chaired the District Coordinating Committee, where key matters related to relief distribution and reconstruction were discussed.
In the Nuwara Eliya and Matale districts, 117 people have been confirmed dead and 44 remain missing.
Other severely affected districts include Badulla (83 deaths and 28 missing), Kurunegala (61 deaths and 11 missing), Puttalam (34 deaths and four missing), and Kegalle (30 deaths and 41 missing).
