Mr. Prabath Chandrakeerthi has been appointed as the Commissioner-General of Essential Services.
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A discussion was held today (29) at the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) between the Government and leading telecommunication companies. The meeting focused on special measures required to urgently restore telephone and internet communication networks disrupted across the country due to the prevailing adverse weather and disaster situation.
The Government wishes to inform the public and the international donor community that certain contributors have experienced difficulties when transferring funds to the designated Central Bank accounts during the ongoing national relief efforts.
To ensure smooth and uninterrupted receipt of donations, donors facing such issues are advised to direct their contributions in LKR to the following Bank of Ceylon account.
Account Name: Deputy Secretary to the Treasury
Account Number: 2026450
Bank: Bank of Ceylon
In addition, donors who wish to make contributions directly to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s foreign currency accounts may use the details listed below:
Foreign Currency Account Details
1. US Dollar (USD)
Bank: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, New York, USA
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 04015541
Routing Number: 021001033
SWIFT: BKTRUS33XXX
2. Euro (EUR)
Bank: ODDO BHF Bank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 0000739854
IBAN: DE39500202000000739854
SWIFT: BHFBDEFF500
3. Pound Sterling (GBP) – Account 1
Bank: HSBC Bank Plc, London, UK
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 39600144
Sort Code: 40-05-15
IBAN: GB48MIDL40051539600144
SWIFT: MIDLGB22XXX
4. Pound Sterling (GBP) – Account 2
Bank: Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd, London, UK
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 88001249
Sort Code: 40-50-56
IBAN: GB89BCEY40505688001249
SWIFT: BCEYGB2LXXX
5. Japanese Yen (JPY)
Bank: MUFG Bank, Tokyo, Japan
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 653-0407895
SWIFT: BOTKJPJTXXX
6. Australian Dollar (AUD)
Bank: Reserve Bank of Australia
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 81736-4
BSB: 092002
SWIFT: RSBKAU2SXXX
For further assistance, donors are encouraged to contact the relevant authorities via the established communication channels.
The Government expresses its sincere appreciation to all individuals, organisations and international partners for their continued generosity and support during this critical period.
An aircraft carrying relief donation from the Government and people of India for those affected by the disaster arrived in Sri Lanka early this morning (29).
Opposition Expresses Full Support, Including for Enforcing Emergency Regulations if Necessary
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed District Secretaries to proceed with rescue and relief operations for affected communities without allowing financial constraints to hinder their work.
President Directs Officials to Ensure Uninterrupted Disaster Relief – Funds to Be Released as Needed
Director General of Government Information, H.S.K.J. Bandara, announced that Rs. 1.2 billion has already been allocated for ongoing disaster relief efforts across the country.
Based on the heavy rainfall currently being received in the Kalu River Basin and the analysis of water level data recorded at hydrological gauging stations maintained by the Irrigation Department within the Kalu River Basin, it is hereby warned that a Major Flood Situation is likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River.
The Colombo District Disaster Management Coordinating Unit convened today (November 27) at the Parliamentary Complex under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, to discuss precautionary measures and necessary actions to be taken in response to potential risks caused by the adverse weather conditions expected over the next 48 hours.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the President’s Fund to provide Rs. 1 million in compensation for each individual who died as a result of the emergency disaster situation caused by heavy rainfall, including floods and landslides.
The Disaster Management Center says the ongoing bad weather has affected 79 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in 17 districts.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed Members of Parliament representing both the Government and the Opposition to urgently intervene in their respective districts to ensure the safety of the public and provide relief to those affected, as severe weather conditions and heavy rainfall are expected to intensify over the next two days.
The President issued these instructions during a special discussion held this morning (27) at the Parliament complex to review the emerging emergency situation caused by adverse weather and to assess the ongoing relief operations.
President Dissanayake directed MPs to visit their districts and assess the needs of the affected people, while also convening District Coordinating Committees and Regional Development Committees to identify current risks and potential disaster situations. The President stressed that MPs must act promptly and appropriately to safeguard lives and provide necessary relief.
It was decided that this matter would be further discussed at the Party Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for 2.00 p.m. today, as parliamentary and budget debates would be disrupted if MPs were to leave for their districts to provide relief.
The discussion broadly focused on rescue and public safety measures, uninterrupted delivery of health and welfare services to affected communities, and the continuation of essential public services. Special attention was also given to ensuring the smooth conduct of the GCE Advanced Level examination and the continuity of educational activities.
The President instructed officials to provide continuous cooked meals and dry rations to people staying at relief centres, those trapped in their homes and individuals temporarily residing with relatives due to flooding. He also highlighted the need for a proper mechanism to compensate families whose houses and farmlands have been damaged.
The President further emphasised the importance of closely monitoring the irrigation system, safeguarding major highways in landslide-prone areas, and ensuring the structural integrity of key infrastructure.
He directed the Director General of the Mahaweli Authority and the Irrigation Department to prepare contingency plans using real-time data from the Department of Meteorology and to manage water resources carefully during periods of heavy rainfall.
MPs representing the affected districts presented their observations, which contributed to the decisions taken at the meeting.
The discussion was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake, Government and Opposition MPs representing disaster-affected districts, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, senior state officials, Commanders of the Tri-Forces and representatives of the Disaster Management Centre and the National Disaster Relief Services Centre.
The low-pressure area southeast of Sri Lanka has intensified into a depression and is centered near latitude 5.9°N and longitude 82.6°E, 210km southeast of Batticaloa.
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