An RTI inquiry by BBC Sinhala raises critical questions about the legality, structure, transparency and management of the proposed ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, revealing significant gaps between public announcements and official responses.
It has been three months since Sri Lanka faced Cyclone Ditwah.
The government took steps to establish a fund called ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ with the aim of rebuilding the country after the immense damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The government also appointed a committee headed by the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, as the management committee of the fund.
There was widespread criticism regarding the establishment of a new fund in the context of an already existing fund established under the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act, which has been in force since 2005, to collect necessary funds in such situations and to spend money on required activities.
Amid the criticism, the inauguration ceremony of the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ national programme, implemented to efficiently manage the country’s reconstruction programme, was held in Colombo on January 13 under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
However, to find out information regarding the legality of this fund and its background, BBC Sinhala Service submitted an information request to the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on January 23, 2026, under the Freedom of Information Act No. 12 of 2016. This is an explanation of how those institutions responded to that information request.
- ‘A matter falling within the purview of the President’s Office’
The first response to the information request was received from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The reply, dated January 30, 2026, stated that the requested information regarding Rebuilding Sri Lanka fell within the purview of the President’s Office.
Therefore, the Ministry forwarded the information request to the Presidential Secretariat.
The basic point that emerges from this response is that there is no fund called Rebuilding Sri Lanka under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
- Under which institution does the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund exist?
“Does a fund called Rebuilding Sri Lanka exist under your institution?” was the first question sent to the President’s Office and the Ministry of Finance.
As mentioned earlier, the Ministry of Finance stated that the matter falls under the Presidential Secretariat, indicating that no such fund exists under that ministry.
According to the information sent by the Presidential Secretariat on February 24, 2026, they responded that, “The necessary steps are being taken to establish the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund at the Presidential Secretariat.”
It therefore appears that no such fund has yet been formally established under that office.
- What are the legal provisions under which the fund has been established?
A press release issued by the Presidential Media Division on December 01 mentioned this fund and included bank account details for donors, whether local or foreign, to contribute in Sri Lankan rupees or foreign currency.
A strong allegation made by the opposition was that there are no legal provisions for the establishment of this fund, and that a fund already exists under the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act of 2005 to collect and disburse funds in such circumstances.
“What is the legal basis on which the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund has been established?” was the second question in the information request.
“The draft bill related to the establishment of the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund is being prepared,” was the response of the Presidential Secretariat.
However, according to the website introduced for collecting donations, www.rebuildingsrilanka.gov.lk, the government states that the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund has been established under the Presidential Secretariat. Yet, according to the RTI response, it appears that the fund has not yet been formally established and that the necessary steps are still being carried out.
- What is the process by which the fund is audited?
“How is the fund audited?” was the third question in the information request.
In response, the Presidential Secretariat again stated only that “The necessary steps are being taken to establish the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund at the Presidential Secretariat.”
- What is the amount of local and foreign funds that have been added to the fund?
According to the government’s fundraising website, www.rebuildingsrilanka.gov.lk, as of February 10, 2026, Rs. 6.072 billion and US $10.29 million had been collected.
However, when BBC Sinhala inquired about the amount of funds collected up to January 23, 2026, the Presidential Secretariat responded that “The necessary steps are being taken to establish the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund at the Presidential Secretariat.”
- ‘The necessary steps are being taken to establish the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund at the Presidential Secretariat’
In addition to the above questions, several other queries were included in the information request. These also received the same response: “The necessary work to establish the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund is being done at the Presidential Secretariat.”
Questions such as how many employees are assigned to maintain and administer the fund, whether salaries are paid and by which institution, what expenses have been incurred through the fund, and who approved those expenses were all met with the same response.
- Does the fund have a management committee?
The Presidential Secretariat stated that there is no management committee for this fund.
However, a press release issued by the Presidential Media Division on December 01, 2025 stated that “The management committee of the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, consisting of representatives from the government and the private sector, will be appointed.”
It was also published on the official website of the Presidential Media Division.
“This fund is to be established as a statutory fund under the Presidential Secretariat, and its management committee will consist of representatives from the government and the private sector,” the statement said.
However, the RTI response indicated that a governing board had been appointed for the fund as per the Cabinet decision dated 2025.01.01.
Its members are as follows:
- Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando
- Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusuf
- Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma
- Senior Economic Advisor to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa
- Director General for Europe and North America, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
- Sugeeshwara Gunaratne
- Chairman of the Helis Group Mohan Pandithage
- Chairman of John Keells Krishan Balendran
- Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake
- CEO of Brandix Group Ashraf Omar
- LOLC Executive Chairman Ishara Nanayakkara
The reasons for appointing these members as the “Administrative Committee” were outlined in the letter provided by the Presidential Secretariat.
It stated that a Steering Committee with representation from the government and private sectors was proposed to strengthen credibility, efficiency and transparency.
- How were they selected? What are their powers and responsibilities?
According to the press release issued by the Presidential Media Division on December 01, 2025, “The Management Committee shall be empowered to effectively manage the fund, assess needs, set priorities, allocate funds and release funds for approved recovery activities.”
It further stated, “This committee shall ensure full transparency in financial management, auditing and all fund-related activities.”
However, according to the RTI response, the scope of the “Steering Committee” is limited as follows:
“Considering the urgent national need to enhance public confidence and promote public participation in disaster-related contributions, the functions of the Steering Committee have been limited to providing strategic guidance and coordination for the deployment of donations, as well as conducting relevant awareness and community relations activities, while maintaining transparency, accountability and adherence to the principles of good corporate governance.”
What happened at the Finance Committee?
On February 17, a discussion regarding this fund arose at the Committee on Public Finance convened under the chairmanship of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament for the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
At that time, Dr. Harsha de Silva inquired about the fund from the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury.
“All the money has gone into the DST account [Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, the account announced by the government to raise money for the fund]. There is no law for it,” the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury stated.
Dr. Harsha de Silva responded that the Finance Committee oversees government funds.
“We are the ones monitoring this, we are the Finance Committee. Either the government takes a decision, or say we are going to keep this in the DST account. In that case, do not talk about a Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund,” he said.
“Because there is no Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund here.”
SOURCE :- BBC SINHALA
