Three months after Sri Lanka was struck by Cyclone “Ditwa,” serious questions have emerged regarding the legality and status of the government’s proposed “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” fund, following a Right to Information (RTI) request filed by BBC Sinhala.
The government announced the establishment of the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” fund to support national recovery efforts after the cyclone caused extensive damage. A launch event for the national rebuilding programme was held on January 13 in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
However, controversy arose because Sri Lanka already has a Disaster Management Act in force since 2005, under which mechanisms exist to raise and disburse funds during national disasters. Critics questioned why a new fund was being created instead of utilising the existing legal framework.
RTI Request and Institutional Responses
On January 23, 2026, RTI requests were submitted under the Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016 to the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, seeking clarification on the legal status, administration, and financial details of the fund.
The Ministry of Finance responded on January 30, stating that the matter falls under the subject purview of the Presidential Secretariat and that no such fund exists under the Ministry. The request was subsequently forwarded to the President’s Office.
In a reply dated February 24, the Presidential Secretariat stated that “necessary steps are being taken to establish the Rebuilding Sri Lanka fund under the Presidential Secretariat.” This response suggests that, as of that date, the fund had not yet been formally established.
Legal Basis Still Under Preparation
In response to a question about the legal provisions under which the fund was created, the Presidential Secretariat stated that a draft bill is currently being prepared.
Despite this, the official fundraising website, www.rebuildingsrilanka.gov.lk, indicates that the fund has already been established under the Presidential Secretariat. According to the website, by February 10, 2026, the fund had received LKR 6.072 billion and USD 10.29 million in donations.
However, when asked under RTI how much money had been collected as of January 23, the Presidential Secretariat repeated that steps were being taken to establish the fund, without providing financial details.
Audit, Staffing, and Expenditure Questions Unanswered
Questions regarding how the fund would be audited, the number of staff involved, salary payments, and whether any funds had already been disbursed were met with the same response: that steps are underway to establish the fund.
Conflicting Information on Management Committee
A press release issued by the President’s Media Division on December 1, 2025, stated that a management committee composed of representatives from both the public and private sectors had been appointed.
The listed members include:
- Labour Minister and Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando
- Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof
- Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma
- Senior Economic Adviser to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa
- Foreign Ministry Director General (Europe and North America) Sugeeswara Gunaratna
- Mohan Pandithage (Chairman, Hayleys Group)
- Krishan Balendra (Chairman, John Keells Holdings)
- Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake (Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Aitken Spence)
- Ashroff Omar (CEO, Brandix Group)
- Ishara Nanayakkara (Executive Chairman, LOLC)
The press release stated that this committee would have authority over fund management, including needs assessments, prioritisation, allocation of funds, and financial oversight to ensure transparency.
However, in its RTI response, the Presidential Secretariat stated that there is no management committee, but rather a “governing board” appointed under a Cabinet decision dated January 1, 2025. According to the RTI reply, the committee’s functions are limited to providing strategic guidance, coordination, public engagement, and promoting transparency, rather than direct financial management.
Discussion at Committee on Public Finance
The issue was also raised on February 17 at the Committee on Public Finance, chaired by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr. Harsha de Silva.
During the meeting, the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury stated that all donations had been credited to the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury (DST) account and that no specific law had yet been enacted for the Rebuilding Sri Lanka fund.
Dr. Harsha de Silva noted that oversight of public funds falls under the Committee on Public Finance and questioned whether the government should clarify whether the funds would remain in the DST account instead of referring to a separate “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” fund.
“If you are going to keep the money in the DST account, then don’t talk about a separate Rebuilding Sri Lanka fund,” he said, adding, “There is no Rebuilding Sri Lanka fund here.”
Ongoing Legal and Transparency Concerns
The RTI responses indicate that although public fundraising activities have been conducted under the name “Rebuilding Sri Lanka,” the legal framework for formally establishing the fund is still being prepared.
The matter raises broader questions about transparency, accountability, and the management of public donations in times of national crisis. As rebuilding efforts continue, clarity regarding the fund’s legal status and governance structure remains a pressing issue.
This article is based on reporting published on the BBC Sinhala website.