Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, has provided a comprehensive update on the current status of the "Rebuilding Sri Lanka" fund, which was established by the government to spearhead recovery efforts following the devastation caused by the recent Cyclone Ditwah.
Highlighting the generosity of the local community, Dr. Suriyapperuma announced that contributions from Sri Lankan businesses and citizens have now exceeded the Rs. 8.5 billion mark.
In addition to domestic support, the Secretary pointed out that financial aid from the international community has seen a significant increase. According to the latest data, total foreign cash donations have surpassed USD 9.49 million. Dr. Suriyapperuma noted that the United States stands as the leading contributor among foreign nations, with their financial aid value exceeding Rs. 1 billion.
The Finance Secretary further detailed the global response, listing the top ten countries that have provided the highest financial contributions following the US. This list includes Australia, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, Italy, and Korea. In total, Dr. Suriyapperuma revealed that 47 countries have extended financial assistance to support Sri Lanka's post-disaster reconstruction efforts.
Beyond monetary contributions, the country has also received a substantial volume of material aid. Dr. Suriyapperuma indicated that Sri Lanka Customs has been processing a large influx of relief goods sent from abroad. He noted that the cumulative value of these in-kind donations and goods received by Customs has now exceeded Rs. 2.3 billion.
