By: Staff Writer
March 17, Colombo (LNW): Despite billions of rupees raised for post-disaster recovery, Sri Lanka’s ambitious rebuilding programme is facing bureaucratic delays that are slowing the relocation of vulnerable communities and the reconstruction of housing.
The government established the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund to finance reconstruction following recent disasters, with a powerful seven-member Management Committee overseeing spending under the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka.
However, progress on some key initiatives particularly housing relocation has stalled due to administrative bottlenecks.
Officials say one of the most pressing obstacles is the shortage of technical officers from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), whose safety assessments are required before communities can be relocated from disaster-prone areas.
Communities in regions such as Ududumbara and Gampola remain in temporary conditions even though funding has been allocated for relocation.
The issue was highlighted during a progress review meeting chaired by Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, where officials called for urgent action to accelerate reconstruction efforts.
According to government sources, stronger coordination between agencies—including the Disaster Management Centre, local authorities, and technical institutions—is now being prioritized.
The reconstruction programme involves massive financial commitments.
More than Rs. 8.5 billion has been collected domestically through donations from businesses and citizens, while international contributions exceed US$9.49 million, according to Finance Ministry data.
In addition, the government has already released Rs. 24.4 billion in state funds to support relief measures and economic recovery.
Nevertheless officials acknowledge that funding alone cannot guarantee progress.
“Coordination between institutions remains a key challenge. We need faster approvals and technical clearances to move people to safe housing,” a government official involved in reconstruction planning said.
Technology is also being introduced to improve transparency. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a digital reporting system for the reconstruction fund free of charge, with technical support from Microsoft.
The platform will allow authorities to track project progress and financial disbursements in real time.
Meanwhile, the government is planning to construct over 50,000 new houses in 2026, supported by a US$4.1 billion reconstruction estimate prepared with the World Bank.
But until safety clearances, administrative coordination, and project approvals accelerate, thousands of families displaced by disasters may continue waiting for permanent homes.
Officials now say speeding up these processes has become a top priority as Sri Lanka attempts to translate reconstruction funding into visible recovery on the ground.