The Ministry of Finance today (03) convened a high-level donor forum bringing together diplomatic missions, bilateral and multilateral development partners and international lending agencies to assess the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah and coordinate assistance for national relief, rescue and restoration efforts.
The meeting, co-chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank and the Secretary to the Treasury, was attended by senior government officials, including Senior Economic Adviser to the President, Mr.Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Mr. Russell Aponsu, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Mr.Aloka Bandara, as well as representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Disaster Management Centre and Treasury Departments.
The Secretary to the Treasury presented an overview of the extensive damage caused by the cyclone across all sectors of the country, stressing the government’s intention to transition from emergency response to a broader, long-term recovery framework. He underscored the urgent need for development assistance from bilateral and multilateral partners, particularly rapid humanitarian support such as food supplies, grants, concessional financing and short- to medium-term aid.
The Central Bank Governor highlighted the importance of external financial support, noting the constraints posed by contracting economic sectors and limited scope for domestic borrowing. Government authorities also urged development partners to encourage international engagement and promote travel to Sri Lanka to help revitalise the tourism sector.
Development partners reaffirmed their strong commitment to support Sri Lanka during this critical period. A representative of the International Monetary Fund announced that Sri Lanka is expected to receive swift access to approximately USD 350 million, the sixth tranche of the Extended Fund Facility, within two weeks.
Several development and donor partners have also committed to immediate assistance, including disaster relief missions, emergency services and essential humanitarian supplies such as food, clean drinking water, hygiene kits, medical supplies and emergency healthcare to stabilise affected communities and prevent disease outbreaks. Some countries have already deployed disaster relief and humanitarian teams on the ground.
Partners also agreed to repurpose and redesign existing loan facilities to support medium-term rehabilitation of damaged economic and social infrastructure including major roads, bridges, irrigation systems and transport networks. They further explored options for new loan and grant packages to address long-term development needs.
The World Bank has already initiated a rapid post-disaster assessment, while development partners held detailed discussions on a comprehensive damage and needs assessment covering housing, infrastructure, agriculture and services to mobilise funding for medium- and long-term recovery.
Sri Lanka extended its deep appreciation to all international development partners for their proactive engagement, solidarity and continued support as the country works to restore essential services, assist affected families and rebuild the nation.
China Sector
01. Ms. Liu Yanping,
Deputy General Manager
Sovereign Business Department (Concessional
Loan Department)
United Nations Sector
02. Ms. Azusa Kubota
Resident Representative
United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP)
03. Ms. Emma Brigham
Country Representative
UNICEF Sri Lanka
04. Mr. Marc-André Franche
UN Resident Coordinator
The UN Resident Coordinator's
Office, Sri Lanka
05. Mr. Philip Ward
Representative and Country Director
World Food Programme, Sri Lanka
06. Mr Vimlendra Sharan
FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives
Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations
Advance Economic Sector
07. H.E. Jean-Francois Pactet
H. E the Ambassador
Embassy of France
08. H.E. Holger Lothar Seubert
H. E the Ambassador
Embassy of the Federal Republic Of
Germany
Japan Sector
09. Mr. Joeng Tae Oh
Country Director, Korea Exim bank
10. Ms. Lee Yooli
Country Director
KOICA - Sri Lanka Office
11. Mr. Kuronuma KENJI
Chief Representative
JICA - Sri Lanka Office
12. Mrs. Devika Lal
First Secretary (E&C)
High Commission of India, Colombo
Middle East Sector
13. Mr. Toshi Kazaokа
Country Manager
OPEC Fund
14. Mr. Waleed Al-Bahar
Acting Director General
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic
Development
15. Mr. Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad
Chief Executive Officer
Saudi Fund for Development
Asian Development Bank Sector
16. Mr. Takafumi Kadono
Country Director
Asian Development Bank
17. Ms. Cholpon Mambetova
Country Operations Head
Asian Development Bank
18. Ms. Lilia Aleksanyan
Senior Country Economist
Asian Development Bank
