Cyclone Ditwah: Sri Lanka's largest disaster and the path to resilient recovery

THE Cabinet has sanctioned the establishment of the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund as a statutory mechanism under the Presidential Secretariat.

- By Dr. Surath Wickramasinghe

The Fund is designed to finance the nation’s mediumand long-term recovery in the aftermath of the recent Cyclone Ditwah. This initiative is both urgent and indispensable, as it seeks to mobilise resources for the reconstruction of destroyed homes, the repair of partially damaged dwellings, the rehabilitation of roads and bridges, and the restoration of agriculture, irrigation tanks, canals, and other critical infrastructure.

Equally significant is the recurring devastation caused annually by floods and landslides, which though less severe than “Ditwah” nonetheless inflict comparable damage. Reliable data on these disasters can be obtained from the Disaster Management Centre. Each year, the Government expends billions of rupees on compensation for loss of life, restoration and rehabilitation of damaged buildings and infrastructure.