The Asian Development Bank and Sri Lanka's government have agreed on a $200 million financing package to rebuild infrastructure and support livelihoods following Cyclone Ditwah, with implementation spanning 2026 to 2030.
The Post-Cyclone Ditwah Reconstruction and Livelihood Support Project was formally established through loan agreements signed at the Treasury in Colombo on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The four-year initiative aims to restore damaged infrastructure, revive agricultural livelihoods, and bolster the country's capacity to withstand future climate disasters.
The project encompasses three primary areas of intervention. Reconstruction efforts will prioritize damaged road networks through the Road Development Authority, while irrigation infrastructure restoration falls under the purview of the Irrigation Department and Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka. Additionally, the initiative will provide direct support to cyclone-affected households through housing assistance grants managed by the National Disaster Relief Services Centre.
Agricultural recovery forms a critical component, with the Department of Agrarian Development designated to deliver livelihood assistance to farming families impacted by the cyclone. The Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development will coordinate overall project execution across these multiple agencies. The loan agreements were signed by Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, and Shannon Cowlin, Country Director of the ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission.
