Global Support Tops Rs. 8.5 Bn as Sri Lanka Rebuilds

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s rebuilding and relief efforts have received overwhelming international and domestic support, with total donations exceeding Rs. 8.5 billion, according to an update issued by the Ministry of Finance.

Providing a progress briefing on the rebuilding initiative, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, said the Treasury continues to maintain full and transparent accounts of all funds received, subject to the same rigorous standards of accountability, reporting, and regulatory oversight applied to public finances.

Since the commencement of the recovery and reconstruction process, Sri Lanka has witnessed an unprecedented wave of generosity from citizens living in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankans living overseas, international well-wishers, donor agencies, and businesses across the globe.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the total value of funds collected to date has surpassed Rs. 8.5 billion, earmarked for reconstruction efforts and the government’s ongoing relief programs.

This figure includes foreign currency contributions amounting to US$ 9.49 million, highlighting strong engagement from international donors alongside local contributions.

The Secretary expressed deep appreciation to all contributors, acknowledging the crucial role these donations play in enabling the government to continue relief and rebuilding operations.

Support From 47 Countries Worldwide
A breakdown of donor contributions shows financial assistance flowing in from 47 different countries, with donations made by individuals, organizations, and businesses.

The United States stands at the top of the list, with contributions exceeding Rs. 1 billion in LKR equivalent value, followed by major support from:

Australia
China
United Kingdom
Germany
Canada
United Arab Emirates
Bhutan
Italy
South Korea

Dr. Suriyapperuma highlighted that the list extends far beyond the top contributors, underscoring the truly global nature of the response.

“Support has come in from all over the world,” he said, citing countries including Nepal, Qatar, Norway, Denmark, Turkey, Kenya, Botswana, Greece, Belgium, and the Netherlands, among others.

He emphasized that Sri Lanka is not facing its recovery alone, with international support continuing to strengthen the country’s rebuilding efforts.

All funds received are being accounted for through the Treasury and channeled directly to affected families through government-led relief mechanisms.
These include:

Immediate relief programs for affected households
Livelihood support initiatives
Assistance to help families and businesses resume normal life as early as possible

The government has intervened swiftly to ensure that funds reach those most in need, supporting both short-term relief and longer-term recovery.

In addition to financial assistance, Sri Lanka has received donated goods valued at over Rs. 2.3 billion, based on reports submitted by Sri Lanka Customs.

All incoming goods are directly handed over to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), which coordinates the allocation of resources to relevant government institutions. These supplies are then distributed swiftly across affected areas to support resettlement and reconstruction efforts.

To facilitate this process, the government has enabled the duty-free clearance of donated goods, with a dedicated task force in operation to support and oversee logistics, distribution, and coordination.