Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya met UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche at Temple Trees on Friday to review post-Cyclone Ditwah recovery and the next phase of humanitarian cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Nations.
The meeting centred on the Humanitarian Priority Plan (HPP), launched in December 2025 in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, the Prime Minister’s Office said. The plan concluded on April 30, 2026 after delivering assistance to vulnerable populations across 25 districts through 81 partner organisations.
The government recognised the substantial international support mobilised through the HPP and discussed the importance of sustained collaboration so that the recovery gains are not lost as the relief window closes, according to the statement carried by Ada Derana. The UN delegation formally presented the latest Sri Lanka Cyclone Ditwah Situation Report to the Prime Minister.
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall in late November 2025, causing damage estimated at $4.1 billion, claiming 646 lives and affecting 2.2 million people across the central, eastern and southern districts. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake committed in February to a May-end deadline for compensation payouts, and the Prime Minister has pledged housing reconstruction before year-end.
The closing of the HPP comes with a funding gap that has stalled OCHA’s appeal, and Friday’s meeting suggests the government is preparing to anchor follow-on UN engagement around the situation report. The State of Emergency, extended for a third time on May 28, continues to provide the legal framework for accelerated disbursements.
Source: Ada Derana.
