Cyclone Ditwah Inflicts Nearly Rs 75 Billion Damage on Sri Lanka's Infrastructure and Roads

Sri Lanka's Road Development Authority reported a significant loss of nearly Rs 75 billion due to Cyclone Ditwah's impact on roads and bridges. A parliamentary oversight committee was informed of this on Tuesday. The cyclone caused extensive damage, necessitating substantial rehabilitation efforts.

Officials highlighted that restoring the damaged infrastructure will require approximately Rs 190 billion. This estimate includes the additional work needed to fully repair the roads and bridges. The Department of Communications of Parliament shared these details in a statement.

Financial Support for Reconstruction

The Road Development Authority revealed that 316 roads and 40 bridges under its jurisdiction suffered damage. To fund the rehabilitation, they plan to secure a Rs 2 billion loan from the World Bank. Additional financial support is anticipated from various other institutions.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) also faced significant losses, estimated at around Rs 20 billion due to the cyclone. Like the Road Development Authority, CEB intends to obtain a loan from the World Bank to aid recovery efforts.

Impact on Utilities and Water Supply

Lanka Electricity Company Pvt Ltd reported losses amounting to Rs 252 million as a result of the disaster. Meanwhile, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board incurred an estimated loss of Rs 5.6 billion.

Officials informed the committee that 156 water supply schemes managed by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board were damaged. However, maintenance work has now restored all these schemes. The Water Board is seeking a grant from the Asian Development Bank for reconstruction efforts.

The cyclone's aftermath has placed a heavy financial burden on Sri Lanka's infrastructure and utility sectors. Securing loans and grants is crucial for rebuilding and restoring essential services across affected areas.

With inputs from PTI