Government never borrowed a cent for post-Ditwah rebuilding: President

11 February 2026 07:10 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

A A A

Colombo, Feb. 11 (Daily Mirror) - The government had built a strong economy to face Cyclone Ditwah, where not even a cent was borrowed or any money printed for the rebuilding efforts after Cyclone Ditwah, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

He told the Central Province programme of the “Nation United” national drive in Nuwara Eliya that the government has allocated over Rs. 500 billion for the rebuilding efforts for 2026.

The President said the government has not borrowed a cent or printed any money for the purpose, adding that the Treasury had in its account over Rs. 1,200 billion.

"We spent Rs. 500 billion out of it for the rebuilding efforts. We have created financial discipline and economic policies so that we can move forward instead of moving backwards after the Cyclone Ditwah," he said.

"The World Bank has estimated the damages caused by Cyclone Ditwah as USD 4.1 billion. It is Rs. 1.2 trillion, which is 4 percent of the GDP. However, we have built an economy where we can face the damage without major impacts to the economy," he added.

Comments - 6

Karalasingam Sivalingam Wednesday, 11 February 2026 08:05 PM

Congratulations. You are the leader we looked forward. You will be SriLanka's Lee Kuwan, even to overtake Singapore in years to come, since SriLanka has natural resourses, unlike service oriented concrete economy of Singapore..

1 0

Dr Bamunusinghe Thursday, 12 February 2026 03:35 PM

Pacha Kumara would be top contender if there was a Nobel prize for Pacha talking.

0 1

jimbo Wednesday, 11 February 2026 09:02 PM

Lying is the trait of all the politicians in the world.

0 2

Ex Treasury Wednesday, 11 February 2026 11:00 PM

Indian aid received as a loan. Only a small part of it was given as a grant. We have a Finance Minister who can not understand external funding

0 2

PEOPLE STAY THE COURSE AND KEEP PRAYING Wednesday, 11 February 2026 11:32 PM

WELL SAID MR. PRESIDENT, KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND DO NOT GIVE A RATS TAIL WHAT THE OPPOSITION PARTY, OTHERS AND THEIR STOOGES MOUTH OFF. IF YOU CANNOT TAKE THE MAJORITY/MILLIONS OF LESS FORTUNATE CITIZENS ALONG WITH THE COUNTRY AND INTO PROSPERITY NO ONE ELSE CAN, DECADES AND DECADES OF TRYING GOT US ON OUR KNEES SUFFERING LIKE NO OTHER TIME IN OUR HISTORY. ALL WE KNOW IS CORRUPTION AKKA FEATHERING OF NEST WENT ON AND EMBEDDED IN SOME POLITICIANS AND THEIR STOOGES IN AND OUT OF PUBLIC SERVICE. OUR HOPES ARE WITH YOU/NPP AND INTO THE NXT ELECTION TOO.

2 0

Jude Thursday, 12 February 2026 10:07 AM

If am not mistaken government received free money totalling to over Rs.6 Billion. The Ditwah cyclone was blessing in disguise, yeah.

0 2

222

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.