‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ National Programme Launched to Lead Post-Disaster Recovery

The national programme titled ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ was officially launched in Colombo on January 13, marking a coordinated effort to guide the country’s post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation process.

The inaugural ceremony was held at the Lotus Hall of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, according to a statement issued by the President’s Media Division (PMD).

The programme has been introduced in response to the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which affected all regions of Sri Lanka, resulting in loss of life and extensive damage to both public and private property. The initiative aims to establish a structured national mechanism to manage recovery, reconstruction, and long-term rebuilding efforts.

Funding for the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ programme will be carried out through three key strategic approaches. These include the re-purposing of ongoing development projects by revising their objectives, re-allocating public funds in line with the Public Finance Management Act, and mobilising domestic and international donor support through the newly established ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund. As part of this process, a supplementary estimate of Rs. 500 billion is expected to be prepared for the year 2026.

To ensure effective leadership and coordination, the President has appointed a 25-member Presidential Task Force, comprising Ministers and senior public officials, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The Task Force will provide strategic direction, resolve inter-ministerial issues, and oversee key decisions related to recovery and reconstruction.

The Task Force’s scope includes restoring basic needs, sanitation and health services; rebuilding critical infrastructure; strengthening livelihoods and local economies; establishing digital data and decision-support systems; and improving communication and stakeholder engagement.

To support implementation and monitoring, eight specialised sub-committees will be established under the leadership of relevant line Ministers. These committees will focus on areas such as post-disaster needs assessment, public and social infrastructure restoration, housing reconstruction, livelihood revitalisation, financial management, data systems, and public communication.

The ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ programme is expected to play a central role in guiding the country’s recovery while promoting transparency, coordination, and sustainable development in the rebuilding process.