Labour Minister and Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando says the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund has received Rs. 10 billion in local and foreign donations for Cyclone Ditwah relief efforts, dismissing allegations regarding the management of the funds.
Speaking yesterday, Dr. Fernando said the donations are being securely maintained in Treasury-controlled bank accounts under the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury and have not yet been utilized.
“The Opposition should not mislead the public by spreading false information. The Government is responsible for every rupee in these accounts, and the funds will be used strictly for their intended relief purposes,” he said.
According to the Deputy Minister, the Rebuilding Sri Lanka programme was launched to support recovery from the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah and forms part of a broader Rs. 500 billion national recovery plan aimed at providing relief, rebuilding homes, restoring livelihoods, and rehabilitating damaged infrastructure.
He said the fund has received contributions from Sri Lankan expatriates, local businesses, and international donors, accumulating Rs. 10 billion to date.
Dr. Fernando noted that the Cabinet had approved the establishment of the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund as a statutory mechanism operating under the Presidential Secretariat. The fund is managed by a committee chaired by the Deputy Minister, while a Presidential Task Force led by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya oversees coordination and transparency in the distribution of assistance.
The recovery programme includes the construction of new homes for displaced families, compensation for partially damaged houses, stabilisation of landslide-prone areas, rehabilitation of agricultural land, and the restoration of roads, irrigation systems, and other public infrastructure.
He further stated that the Auditor General’s Department oversees the dedicated Treasury account and monitors all future expenditure related to the programme.
“The allegation that the Rebuilding Sri Lanka funds were misappropriated or unaudited is completely incorrect. The Auditor General’s Department has confirmed that not a single cent of the donated money has been spent. The funds remain fully secured in official Treasury accounts,” he said.
Dr. Fernando added that although Rs. 200 billion of the overall Rs. 500 billion relief allocation has been utilized for direct relief measures, the donated funds remain untouched. He assured that Parliament and relevant institutions will be provided with detailed reports on the future allocation and auditing of the funds.
“The Government remains committed to transparency and financial discipline and will clearly disclose how these funds are distributed and audited going forward,” he said.
