December 26, 2004 will go down in history as the day most of South Asian coastal region was destroyed by massive tidal waves, triggered off by an underwater earthquake in the seas close to Sumatra, Indonesia. It read 9.0 on the Richter Scale. 

The death toll in Sri Lanka alone has reached 30,615 with the number rising daily. A further 1.5 million persons are displaced and destitute.

If you wish to help these victims mail us at relief@cnosrilanka.org. so we can coordinate and direct your aid and services to the relevant authorities.

• All financial aid maybe directed to the following special bank accounts for relief funds:

1)  Central Bank of Sri Lanka
     Account number: 4669

2)  People’s Bank
     Head Quarters Branch 
     Account number: 204100190136245
     Account name: President’s Fund for Disaster relief

• Online donations for the President's Fund

*  Bank of Ceylon 
* People's Bank

• Central Bank of Sri Lanka has introduced a system for electronic remittances of donation by expatriate Sri Lankan and other donors for the disaster relief funds.  Accordingly all foreign remittances could be credited through Credit Card on the special web site www.centralbanklanka.org

All direct remittances via SWIFT and Telegraphic transfers could be credited to the following designated accounts in US dollars or Euro, Australian Dollar, Yen or Sri Lankan Rupee.

(a)      USD A/C No: 0210-8075-3 with Federal Reserve Bank, New York, USA.

A/C Name : Central Bank of Sri Lanka - Disaster Relief Account
(SWIFT Code : FRNYUS33)

(b)      Euro A/C Name : 40828 with Deutsche Bundes Bank, Frankfurt, Germany

A/C Name : Central Bank of Sri Lanka

(SWIFT Code: MARKDEFF)

(c)      GBP A/C 01510/600014/00 with Bank of Ceylon, London, UK

A/C Name : Central Bank of Sri Lanka

(SWIFT Code: BCEYGB2L)

Payments by cheques, bank drafts, money orders drawn in favour of “Central Bank of Sri Lanka” could be forwarded to Chief Accountant, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Colombo-01 Sri Lanka.

Any further information on this could be obtained from the following:

E-mail  :       tsunamisrilanka@cbsl.lk
Tel        :       [00 94] 11 2477153, 2477539
Fax       :       [00 94] 11 2346264

It has been brought to the notice of the Government that a large number of foreign individuals, expatriate Sri Lankan and other organizations have expressed their willingness to extend financial support to rehabilitate and reconstruct the areas affected by the December 26^th Tsunami disaster.  The Government has now taken a policy decision to direct all such donations made by individuals to the areas specified by the donors.

 

Donations

Donations received by the National Fund for Disaster Relief to assist persons affected by the Tsunami (as at 31.01.2005) - Part1

Donations received by the National Fund for Disaster Relief to assist persons affected by the Tsunami (as at 31.01.2005) - Part2

Facts about the President’s National Disaster Fund for Disaster Relief 

• In the immediate aftermath of the December 26^th disaster, Sri Lanka experienced an unprecedented outpouring of generosity.
• Foreign governments and people from all walks of life, both in Sri Lanka and overseas contributed magnanimously to help the victims of the tsunami.

• Contributions received at the President’s Office during the first two days after the disaster were credited to the existing ‘President’s Fund’ account.
• On the 28^th of December 2004 a current account numbered 2041 0019 0136 245 captioned ‘President’s Fund for Disaster Relief’ was opened at the People’s Bank to receive all donations.

• In order to centralize receipts of all contributions and to ensure accountability and transparency a ‘National Fund for Disaster Relief’ was established at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on January 18, 2005 under the Account Number 4669.

• All donations accrued to the two accounts mentioned above were transferred to the National Fund for Disaster Relief’ account. 

• The authorized signatories to this account are the Secretary to the President and the Chief Accountant of the President’s Office. 

• Each contribution is individually acknowledged and an official receipt is duly issued.

• A detailed statement of these accounts is presented to the Cabinet of Ministers periodically.

• On the recommendations of the Tsunami Housing Reconstruction Unit (THRU) tasked with the construction of houses for tsunami victims and the provision of related infrastructure such as water, electricity and sewage disposal facilities, funds are disbursed in installments to the relevant Ministries and Government Institutions.

• The THRU comprising representatives from the President’s Office, TAFREN, the UDA and the Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply, meets every week and is presided over by the President. This Committee examines and approves various proposals for acquisition of lands for housing, construction of houses and related infrastructure.

• The procurement of goods and services for projects identified are monitored closely by the relevant Government Agencies. All expenditure incurred are subjected to prevailing financial regulations and procedures.

Contact Information: Send mail to gosl@presidentsl.org with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: August 04, 2005.