🌀 Cabinet Approves Rs. 617.7 Bn Cyclone Ditwah Recovery Program

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a massive Rs. 617.7 billion recovery initiative to restore essential services, livelihoods, and infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, aligning with the national 'Building Back Better' policy. • Overall Funding & Structure: The recovery framework comprises 1,066 projects in total. Funding will be coordinated across national and regional levels to ensure comprehensive rehabilitation. • National Projects: A total of 1,028 national recovery projects, valued at Rs. 515.46 billion, will commence implementation from 2026. These will be financed directly through the annual Budget. • Provincial Projects: 38 Provincial Council projects, valued at Rs. 102.22 billion, have been designated to address localized regional damages. • Governance & Compliance: Reviewed by the Department of National Planning and the Public Investment Committee, the projects are approved under the Public Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024. This allows critical disaster-related investments to proceed outside the standard Public Investment Program. The proposal was submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister.