COLOMBO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka has approved the creation of a fund to support national recovery efforts following the severe damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which the government described as one of the most destructive natural disasters in recent years.
According to the cabinet decision, the "Rebuilding Sri Lanka" fund will be set up as a statutory body under the Presidential Secretariat. Its management committee will include senior government officials and private-sector representatives.
Minister of Labor and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando has been appointed chairman of the committee.
The committee will be authorized to manage the fund's operations, assess recovery needs, determine priorities, allocate resources and disburse funds for approved projects. It will also be responsible for ensuring transparency in all financial procedures, including management and auditing.
The death toll from extreme weather conditions hitting Sri Lanka has risen to 410, while 336 people remain missing, the country's Disaster Management Center said Tuesday. ■