Donors say nearly US$ 50 mn already given in cash for relief work in Sri Lanka

Donor countries say they have credited nearly US$ 50 mn, in cash, for immediate rehabilitation work in Sri Lanka, but the government is still picking up the numbers.





Donor countries say they have credited nearly US$ 50 mn, in cash, for immediate rehabilitation work in Sri Lanka, but the government is still picking up the numbers. "At this time the confirmed amount, in cash, from bilateral donors to Sri Lanka, comes to US$ 49.



6 mn," said Yan Huesken, from the donor-coordination desk of the Centre for National Operations (CNO).

The donor desk of the CNO was closed last week with Sri Lanka announcing that relief efforts would shift focus from emergency provisions to reconstruction.

Donor countries are now coordinating assistance among each other based on the government’s need assessment report.

The donors say that most of the US$ 49.6 mn already provided, was credited directly to the United Nations(UN) and is already being used for relief activities by various UN organisations.

The UN asked for US$ 33.1 mn as immediate rehabilitation aid for Sri Lanka at the first tsunami-door conference in Jakarta, Indonesia on January 06.

The UN announced th