The Presidential Secretariat has revealed that the bill required to legally establish the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which has already accumulated over LKR 10 billion is still in the drafting stage.
Although it was noted that the bill is slated to be presented to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval, the Secretariat has provided no specific timeline or date for its presentation to Parliament or its eventual enactment.
RTI Reveals 8 Month Delay
This information came to light in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application submitted on May 6, 2026, by journalist Rekha Nilukshi.
The application sought clarity on
- The current progress of the bill to legally establish the fund as an independent entity.
- The scheduled date for presenting the bill to Parliament.
- The reasons behind the eight-month delay in passing the legislation.
- Details regarding the fund’s administration, financial management, and auditing procedures.
After an appeal was filed under the RTI Act due to the initial failure to provide the information within the stipulated timeframe, the relevant details were finally released on July 7, 2026. The Presidential Secretariat stated that the initial delay occurred because gathering the required information was time-consuming.
Purpose and Funding of the Initiative
According to the Presidential Secretariat, “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” is envisioned as a national development fund operating with contributions from the government, private sector, development partners, and donors. Its primary objective is to provide financial assistance for national development priorities.
The Secretariat added that project selection under this fund is guided by national development plans, government policy priorities, and sector-specific needs. This process is carried out in coordination with relevant state agencies, including the Department of National Planning.
Current Financial Status
As of April 30, 2026 the fund’s breakdown is as follows
| Funding Source | Amount (LKR) |
|---|---|
| Local Grants | 10,015,741,459.07 |
| Foreign Grants | 3,389,102,370.54 |
The response further noted that all local and foreign donations received so far for the initiative are deposited in the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka Account” at the Treasury, maintained under the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury.
Expenditures and Unanswered Questions
Out of the local grant deposit account, a sum of LKR 500,000.00 was released to the Department of National Archives on April 22, 2026, via the International Council on Archives. This was allocated for the preservation of archives damaged by Cyclone Ditva. However, despite inquiries regarding other expenses, compensation methods, or housing aid for those affected by Cyclone Ditva, no further details were provided.
Furthermore, the Presidential Secretariat stated it could not answer questions regarding the fund’s management structure, governing board, auditing mechanism, audits by the Auditor General’s Department, parliamentary oversight, or control mechanisms. It directed that these inquiries should instead be referred to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
The Presidential Secretariat’s response highlights that while the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund has amassed over LKR 10 billion, the necessary legal framework remains incomplete. The government has yet to disclose a definitive timeline or legal structure for introducing the bill to Parliament.