The Hardest Task Is Rebuilding : President Outlines Recovery Plan

COLOMBO (News 1st); HARDEST TASK IS REBUILDING - Sri Lanka’s recovery effort is being reshaped around that reality, as the President set out an urgent, comprehensive plan to stabilize daily life and push the country from emergency response into reconstruction.

The disaster ranks among the most devastating in recent times, with the full death toll still unconfirmed and every district severely affected.

Thousands of people remain in major displacement camps, making immediate care for the displaced the first priority, alongside a rapid strengthening of essential services and infrastructure to restore normal life.

Roads and Bridges: After consultations with key institutions, including the Road Development Authority (RDA), authorities identified restoring access routes as the single biggest barrier to relief and recovery. Damage spans 256 locations on main roads, and several bridges have collapsed. Provincial councils have been asked for precise assessments of local road damage. A circular has already empowered the Commissioner of Essential Services to mobilize equipment and personnel from unaffected areas to speed clearances and repairs.

Connectivity and Power: Communication has collapsed in many places. Major telecom companies have been engaged for days and are working to restore connectivity as fast as conditions allow. Electricity is a continuing concern; fallen transmission towers mean some areas will take time to regain power. A prioritization plan is in place to restore electricity immediately to major hospitals, key towns, and government offices while broader grid repairs proceed.

Safe Water: With clean drinking water at risk, water supply has been elevated as a critical issue. Ensuring safe water access sits alongside roads, power, and communications as part of the essential service backbone that must be restored to bring life back to normal.

Emergency Powers and Financing: Recognizing that the hardest task ahead is rebuilding, the government has declared a state of emergency to expedite processes and overcome institutional delays. To finance the reconstruction, plans are underway to establish the Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund, overseen by a joint committee of public and private sector representatives. Significant external support will be required: the disaster struck just as the economy was recovering, and the added strain makes securing aid and raising funds an urgent necessity.

Agriculture and Inputs: Agriculture is a core pillar of the recovery. Discussions with the Agriculture Secretary confirm vast paddy fields have been destroyed, although some are recovering as floodwaters recede. With early December still offering a window to restart cultivation, the immediate need is for seeds and fertilizers, and the Agriculture Ministry is tasked with preventing input shortages.

SMEs, Rural Enterprises, and Livestock: Reviving small and medium industries, especially rural enterprises that have collapsed, is essential to restore livelihoods. This includes financial support and operational facilities. Livestock farms, vital to the economy, have been wiped out in many areas; targeted assistance will be provided to bring them back online and re-anchor local incomes.

Resettlement and Social Support: The plan prioritizes resettling displaced families and supporting them until they regain economic stability, which will require dedicated funding streams. To shape reconstruction budgets, the center is calling for accurate district-level reports detailing damage and estimated costs, to be submitted urgently and consolidated into a national estimate.

Budget Authority and Contingency: To accelerate action on the ground, divisional secretaries have been authorized via circulars to spend up to Rs. 500 million. Approximately Rs. 30 billion remains in the contingency budget, and, if necessary, the government can seek parliamentary approval for supplementary allocations.

State Leadership and Coordination: The scale of the disaster demands a strong state mechanism. The government will lead and coordinate all stakeholders under a clear plan, urging the public service to work efficiently and avoid being bogged down by routine procedures. With disciplined coordination, the administration aims to overcome the situation quickly and lay the foundation for rebuilding the nation.

Panic Management and Kandy Issues: Authorities are also confronting public panic after a rumor of an impending Kotmale Dam explosion triggered midnight chaos, sending residents running through the streets. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) and intelligence services have been directed to investigate urgently and identify the source of the misinformation to prevent unnecessary fear. Beyond rumor control, several areas in Kandy District remain inaccessible, and there are reports of drinking water shortages; officials have been asked to focus on these issues immediately.