Sri Lanka, Aug. 17 -- District Secretaries received directives from the Ministry of Defence to speed up the release of disaster relief allocations after revelations showed only 30 percent of funds allocated for rehabilitation and reconstruction following Cyclone Ditwah were utilised to date.

The Treasury reports, as quoted by weekend media reports, have indicated that the National Disaster Relief Services Centre released Rs. 86.7 billion between January and July 2026 for compensation payments and infrastructure development in flood and landslide-affected areas.

However, only Rs. 26.4 billion was spent, leaving Rs. 60.3 billion unutilised.

In a letter dated August 12, the Additional Secretary of the Disaster Management Division instruct...