'Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund' not a separate fund, only account name: Bimal Ratnayake

The Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund represents a title given to the account of the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, with all received monies credited directly to the consolidated fund of the government, Leader of the House and Minister Bimal Ratnayake said yesterday (10).

Minister Bimal Ratnayake told parliament that steps are underway to enact the necessary legislation to formally establish the fund, with the draft act currently referred to the Legal Draftsman for approval.

Certain opposition members of parliament are attempting to mislead the public and create confusion regarding the fund to prevent people from donating, the minister said.

Monies received for the fund go to the Treasury account and cannot be utilised without the explicit approval of parliament, the minister added.

The minister noted that even the 500 billion rupees allocated for the post-disaster rebuilding process remains entirely unspent at present.