“We’ll soon obtain legal approval for the fund to rebuild Sri Lanka,” says Deputy Minister Anil Fernando
06-Dec-2025.
“We are carrying out all financial operations strictly according to the Public Finance Management Act. The opposition keeps tossing around mixed opinions about the newly established fund.
The legal approval for this fund will be obtained very soon. It’s the opposition who keeps repeating that the government hasn’t done anything after the disaster. Our actions have been welcomed internationally,” said Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Anil Fernando.
He said this on Dec 5 during the committee-stage debate of the 2026 Budget regarding the Ministry of Plantations, Ministry of Social Infrastructure, Ministry of Trade and Food Security, and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
He further stated:
“As a country, we faced an extremely severe natural disaster. The loss of life cannot be valued. To this day, the damage to property cannot be fully assessed. Only after assessment can we swiftly proceed with rebuilding efforts.
It is only the opposition that keeps claiming the government didn’t act to prevent the disaster or respond properly afterward. That’s just their political routine. The way the government acted after the disaster has been welcomed by the international community. The people know the truth.
The President has released adequate funds to provide relief to the affected people. The Central Bank fully supported this. Instructions have been given to distribute initial relief funds. We will quickly help people recover from the damages.
We had to face this disaster just when we were working on economic recovery. If we had a strong economic position, we wouldn’t have needed to seek international financial support.
All financial activities are being carried out according to the Public Finance Management Act. The opposition keeps criticizing the newly established fund, but legal approval will be obtained very soon. The government is acting entirely according to the law.
Economic recovery work is progressing well. As of mid-November 2025, total government debt is estimated at 30.6 trillion rupees, including 19.48 trillion rupees in domestic debt and 36.23 billion USD in foreign debt. Debt-repayment plans will begin from 2026.”
