The “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Presidential Task Force met yesterday afternoon (13) at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya.
The meeting held extensive discussions on delays in contracted projects to rebuild infrastructure following the Ditwah disaster, obstacles to achieving the 2026 project targets, and the current progress of the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme.
It was revealed that Rs. 13,505 million has so far been provided for 50,554 partially damaged houses, while Rs. 11,510 million has been provided for 49,18 fully damaged houses.
The meeting also extensively reviewed the restoration of damaged infrastructure, including roads, railway lines and bridges, and the future measures to be taken in this regard. Attention was also focused on the current progress of construction work on partially and fully damaged houses, resettlement, and measures to be taken regarding people who continue to remain in relief camps.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya instructed officials to visit the areas affected by the Ditwah disaster and assess the current situation. She emphasised that it was essential to restore the daily lives of the people as soon as possible and stressed the importance of holding discussions with officials of the relevant line agencies to achieve this.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya also instructed members of the Presidential Task Force to take the necessary steps to hold discussions as soon as possible with governors, chairpersons of district coordinating committees, district secretaries, provincial chief secretaries and officials of the relevant line agencies to expedite projects that have encountered delays in the rebuilding process.
Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando; Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dr A. H. M. H. Abhayaratne; Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd); Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi; Senior Adviser to the President on the Digital Economy Dr Hans Wijesuriya; Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russell Aponsu; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma; Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government S. Aloka Bandara; and other members of the committee were also present.
