Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund receives over Rs. 8.5B in contributions – Finance Secretary

Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, shared an update about the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund. This fund was set up by the government to help with rebuilding efforts after Cyclone ‘Ditwah.’ He reported that the total contributions from Sri Lankan businesses and individuals have now gone over Rs. 8.5 billion. Dr. Suriyapperuma also mentioned that foreign aid has increased a lot, with total contributions from other countries exceeding USD 9.49 million. The United States has given a significant amount, surpassing Rs. 1 billion. He pointed out that the top ten foreign donors include Australia, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, Italy, and South Korea. In total, 47 countries have provided financial help for Sri Lanka’s rebuilding efforts. Dr. Suriyapperuma also stressed that beyond money, a large amount of goods has been received through Sri Lanka Customs, with a total value over Rs. 2.3 billion so far.