Donor conference being finalised; no time frame as yet

World Bank Group Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) report estimated that US$4.1 billion of direct physical damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah 

By Ajith Siriwardana   

In the wake of World Bank releasing its report on damage caused to Sri Lanka due to the Ditwah Cyclone, a Minister said yesterday the process to call for an international donor conference is being finalised by the High-Level Committee for Foreign Relief Aid (Supplies) Coordination (HL-FRAC) headed by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).   

Minister of Environment Dammika Patabendi told the Daily Mirror that no time frame has been finalised as yet and that the committee is doing the needful to convene the donor conference.   

The World Bank in its World Bank Group Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) report estimated that US$4.1 billion of direct physical damage to buildings and contents, agriculture and critical infrastructure was caused by Cyclone Ditwah.   

Commenting on the relocation of disaster victims, the Minister said the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) had submitted reports on some risk areas to be evacuated, while it is investigating other areas.   

The Minister said some 1,450 locations had been identified in the Kegalle District, while some 1,400 locations are still to be investigated.