Govt. secures USD 200 mn from ADB for Post-Cyclone Ditwah Reconstruction and Livelihoods Support Project

On 18 August 2026, the Government of Sri Lanka secured USD 200 million in funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to initiate the Post-Cyclone Ditwah Reconstruction and Livelihoods Support Project. The project aims to rebuild critical infrastructure and restore livelihoods in regions devastated by Cyclone Ditwah between 2026 and 2030.

The Asian Development Bank's financial assistance was secured following negotiations with the bank concerning recovery efforts in areas heavily impacted by the cyclone. The funding primarily supports road rehabilitation, aiming to enhance their resilience to future extreme weather events. Additionally, the project will fund irrigation system restoration, agricultural assistance for affected families, and housing grants for cyclone-impacted households.

The executing agency for the project is the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development. The project is divided into three main components: road rehabilitation by the Road Development Authority (RDA), irrigation system restoration by the Irrigation Department and Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, and livelihood and housing restoration for affected families through the Department of Agrarian Development and National Disaster Relief Services Centre.

The loan agreements were signed at the Treasury in Colombo by Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and Shannon Cowlin, Country Director of the ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission.