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ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka Cabinet has approved a proposal to establish the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, aimed at rebuilding the country following the severe devastation caused by Cyclone ‘Ditwah’, the government said.

The cost of the damage due to the disaster, which is one of the worst natural disasters in Sri Lanka’s recent history, is yet to be know. However, some analysts estimate it much more than the rebuilding cost spent after Tsunami devastation in 2004.

The Fund is to be established as a statutory fund under the Presidential Secretariat and its Management Committee will comprise representatives from both the public and private sectors.

Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, will serve as the Chairman of the Committee, while Mr. G. M. R. D. Aponsu, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, will serve as the Convener.

The other members of the Committee are:

• Hanif YusufGovernor of the Western Province and Special Representative of the President for Foreign Investments
• Harshana SuriyaapperumaSecretary to the Ministry of Finance
• Duminda HulangamuwaSenior Economic Adviser to the President
• Sugeeshwara GunawadhanaDirector General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Mohan PandithageChairman, Hayleys Group
• Krishan BalendraChairman, John Keells
• Parakrama DissanayakeDeputy Chairman and Managing Director, Aitken Spence
• Ashroff OmarGroup Chief Executive Officer, Brandix
• Ishara NanayakkaraExecutive Chairman, LOLC Holdings

The President’s Media Division (PMD) said the Management Committee will be empowered to ensure the effective administration of the Fund, including assessing requirements, setting priorities, allocating resources and disbursing funds for approved recovery activities.

Contributions to the fund may be made by any donor, local or overseas, either in Sri Lankan Rupees or in any foreign currency, to the following Bank of Ceylon account:

Account Name: Deputy Secretary to the Treasury
Account Number: 2026450
Bank: Bank of Ceylon, Taprobane Branch
Swift Code: BCEYLKLX

Account details for foreign currency deposits:

US Dollar (USD)
Bank: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, New York, USA
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 04015541
Routing Number: 021001033
SWIFT: BKTRUS33XXX

Euros (EUR)
Bank: ODDO BHF Bank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 0000739854
IBAN: DE39500202000000739854
SWIFT: BHFBDEFF500

Pound Sterling (GBP) – Account 1
Bank: HSBC Bank Plc, London, UK
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 39600144
Sort Code: 40-05-15
IBAN: GB48MIDL40051539600144
SWIFT: MIDLGB22XXX

Pound Sterling (GBP) – Account 2
Bank: Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd, London, UK
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 88001249
Sort Code: 40-50-56
IBAN: GB89BCEY40505688001249
SWIFT: BCEYGB2LXXX

Japanese Yen (JPY)
Bank: MUFG Bank, Tokyo, Japan
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 653-0407895
SWIFT: BOTKJPJTXXX

Australian Dollar (AUD)
Bank: Reserve Bank of Australia
Recipient Account Name: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Account Number: 81736-4
BSB: 092002
SWIFT: RSBKAU2SXXX

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