• Rebuilding SL Fund donor SLR and foreign currency account details released  

The Government of Sri Lanka has introduced a simplified procedure for the cargo clearance of essential goods donated by overseas donors for flood-affected communities, exempting all import taxes and levies. It is reported this system has been developed taking into account the requests and inquiries made by foreign organisations, various overseas donors  and Sri Lankans abroad, to offer humanitarian assistance. Accordingly, a simplified process has been announced to swiftly clear and distribute the aid sent to the country exempting all import taxes and levies. Guidelines on donations can be obtained by visiting the website http://WWW.CUSTOMS.GOV.LK and detailed information on the types of essential goods and materials that can be donated can be obtained by visiting the website http://WWW.DONATE.GOV.LK.

Subhead _ A fund to rebuild 

Meanwhile, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the establishment of the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which aims to rebuild the country after the massive damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, one of the worst natural disasters in Sri Lanka’s recent history. 

The fund is to be established as a statutory fund under the Presidential Secretariat and its management committee will comprise representatives from the Government and private sectors. The Labour Minister and the Finance and Planning Deputy Minister, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, will serve as its Chairperson, while the Senior Additional Secretary to the President, G.M.R.D. Aponso will serve as the Convener of the Committee. The other committee members include: the President’s Special Envoy for Foreign Investment and the Western Province Governor, Hanif Yusoof, the Secretary to the Finance Ministry, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, the Senior Economic Advisor to the President, Duminda Hulangamuwa, the Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Sugeeshwara Gunawardena, the Chairperson of the Hayleys Group, Mohan Pandithage, the Chairperson of the John Keells Holdings, Krishan Balendra, the Deputy Chairperson and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, the Brandix Group Chief Executive Officer, Ashroff Omar, and the Lanka ORIX Leasing Company Executive Chairperson, Ishara Nanayakkara. The Management Committee is empowered to effectively manage the fund and is responsible for assessing needs, setting priorities, allocating funds and disbursing funds for approved recovery activities. This committee will ensure full financial management, auditing and the transparency of all fund activities related to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund. Accordingly, donors may transfer their financial assistance to any person, local or foreign, in Sri Lankan Rupees or any currency, to the following Bank of Ceylon (BoC) account: Account name - Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Account number – 2026450, Bank – BoC, branch – Taprobane, and Swift code – BCEYLKLX. Meanwhile, donors who directly deposit funds into the foreign currency accounts of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) will have the opportunity to deposit funds through the following accounts. United States (US) Dollar (Bank - Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, New York, US, Recipient account name – CBSL, Account number – 04015541, Routing number – 021001033, and SWIFT - BKTRUS33XXX), Euro (Bank - ODDO BHF Bank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Recipient account name – CBSL, Account number – 0000739854, IBAN - DE39500202000000739854, and SWIFT - BHFBDEFF500), Pound Sterling Account One (Bank: HSBC Bank Plc, London, England, Recipient account name – CBSL, Account number – 39600144, Sort code - 40-05-15, IBAN - GB48MIDL40051539600144, and SWIFT - MIDLGB22XXX), Pound Sterling Account Two (Bank – BoC [United Kingdom] Limited, London, Recipient account name – CBSL, Account number – 88001249, Sort code - 40-50-56, IBAN - GB89BCEY40505688001249, and SWIFT - BCEYGB2LXXX), Japanese Yen (Bank - MUFG Bank, Tokyo, Japan, Recipient account name – CBSL, Account number - 653-0407895, and SWIFT – BOTKJPJTXXX), and Australian $ (Bank - Reserve Bank of Australia, Recipient account name – CBSL, Account number - 81736-4, BSB – 092002, and SWIFT - RSBKAU2SXXX).