Post disaster rebuilding: Govt. to call for international donor conference

• Need assessment is now in progress
• A number of countries have committed emergency assistance in funding 
• India was the first to respond to Sri Lanka’s disaster
• Besides, the United States, Australia, Pakistan, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, the Maldives, Bangladesh and Japan are among the countries that extended assistance
• Govt. has already established Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund to raise financial resources to reconstruct the country 

By Kelum Bandara 

The government is planning to call for an international donor conference to seek assistance for rebuilding the disaster- hit country, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed to Daily Mirror.
It will be done after the current need assessment is completed. The World Bank is carrying out the assessment at the moment. 
In addition, the government agencies are carrying out the task at the moment. Asked whether the government will conduct an international donor conference, Minister Herath replied , “Yes we have that plan.”
Cyclone Ditwah that made landfall on November 28 unleashed riverine floods, floods and landslides killing over 600 people and inflicting extensive damages to the infrastructure such as highways, transmission lines, irrigation tanks and canals and buildings. 
Earlier, Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said that damages had roughly been estimated at US $ 6 - 7 billion. 
The government has already established Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund to raise financial resources to reconstruct the country. It has already received over Rs.3.4 billion from donors - some of them include business tycoons. 
Besides, a number of countries have committed emergency assistance in funding. India was the first to respond to Sri Lanka’s disaster. Besides, the United States, Australia, Pakistan, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, the Maldives, Bangladesh and Japan are among the countries that extended assistance. 
Also, the United Nations and humanitarian partners launched
a Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP) last week calling for US$ 35.3 million (LKR 10.9 billion) to scale up life-saving assistance for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
The plan focuses on reaching 658,000 of the most vulnerable people in urgent need of support between December 2025 and April 2026.
The plan follows the government’s request for international assistance and complements and supports ongoing national efforts by directing assistance to the people and areas most severely impacted by the cyclone. 
The HPP’s support spans immediate life-saving assistance in education; food security, agriculture and nutrition; health; protection; shelter, non-food items and camp coordination; water, sanitation and hygiene; and early recovery.