Rebuilding Sri Lanka Presidential Task Force meets; recruits 125 technical officers

The Rebuilding Sri Lanka Presidential Task Force met yesterday (15) at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya to review progress made thus far in restoring normalcy following the disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah and to identify urgent measures required to address emerging challenges in the recovery process.

During the meeting, discussions focused on the severe shortage of technical officers affecting reconstruction efforts, as well as the shortage of personnel faced by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) in conducting land inspections and preparing reports across multiple districts simultaneously. It was noted that these constraints have significantly impacted the pace of recovery. To address the issue, the Government has recruited 125 technical officers, who will be deployed to the relevant institutions from next Monday.

The Task Force also conducted a comprehensive review of compensation payments to disaster-affected persons, the provision of housing or housing assistance for families whose homes were completely destroyed, the rehabilitation of railway infrastructure, highways, culverts and bridges, and the restoration of damaged schools.

It was reported that compensation payments for partially damaged properties are nearing completion. Attention was also given to resolving challenges that have arisen in several districts regarding the provision of housing for those whose homes were completely destroyed. While financial assistance of Rs. 5 million for house construction and housing reconstruction programmes have progressed satisfactorily in some areas, difficulties encountered in districts such as Matale, Puttalam, Kegalle, Badulla and Ratnapura were discussed in detail.

The meeting further considered measures required to expedite the rehabilitation of the road network. It was noted that both China and India have agreed to provide assistance for the construction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges, and that agreements are expected to be signed in due course.

Discussions also centred on the challenges involved in restoring roads damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, which affected approximately two-thirds of the country’s land area. Particular attention was paid to the difficulties of simultaneously undertaking numerous road development projects within individual Divisional Secretariat divisions while continuing other ongoing development activities, as well as the measures needed to overcome these obstacles.

The meeting was informed that, according to a survey conducted by UNICEF in disaster-affected areas, all school-age children in those regions have now resumed attending school and that educational activities are proceeding normally.

Further discussions focused on additional government interventions required to accelerate housing construction and rehabilitation programmes. Consideration was also given to convening District Secretaries to discuss the challenges they are facing. Responsibility for conducting further assessments and follow-up action was assigned to Russell Aponsu, Senior Additional Secretary to the President.

The Task Force also discussed the importance of engaging representatives of civil society organisations more actively in the programme, given their direct interaction with affected communities and the public.

Among those attending the meeting were Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake; Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti; Minister of Rural Development and Social Empowerment Dr Upali Pannilage; Minister of Housing Construction and Water Supply Dr Susil Ranasinghe; Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara; Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma; Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Russell Aponsu; Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.); Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Government Aloka Bandara; other ministry secretaries and government officials; as well as civil society representatives Mandana Ismail and Rohana Hettiarachchi, among others. (PMD)

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