(Sri Lanka Brief) Colombo, December 31, 2025 — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has decided to establish a Presidential Task Force titled “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” to address the extensive loss of human life and the damage to private and public property caused by recent natural disasters across the island.
The Task Force includes the editor of The Morning newspaper, which is owned by leading businessman Dilith Jayaweera. He owns the Derana TV and Radio network as well. She is also a member of the government’s media policy formulation committee, a body that has been widely condemned by media organizations. She has previously worked for The Sunday Leader, edited by the late Lasantha Wickramatunga.
In addition, Rohana Hettiarachchi, the head of the election monitoring organization PAFFREL, has been appointed as a member of the Task Force. Observers have pointed out that the appointment of the head of an independent election monitoring body to a government task force raises serious concerns, particularly at a time when the same government is postponing Provincial Council elections—creating what critics describe as a clear conflict of interest.
The Task Force was established through an Extraordinary Gazette Notification of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka issued on December 31, 2025, under the powers vested in the President by Article 33 of the Constitution.
Notably, the Task Force is not accountable to Parliament. Critics argue that President Dissanayake, like his predecessors, is continuing to exercise expansive executive powers with limited oversight.
The Task Force also appears to have no formal connection to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which President Dissanayake had previously established with the participation of the business community.
Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Hon. Harini Amarasuriya, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Task Force. A total of 25 members, including Cabinet Ministers, Ministry Secretaries, Senior Advisors to the President, the Director General of Government Information, and other senior officials, have been appointed to serve on the body.
According to the Gazette notification, the Task Force’s main responsibilities include restoring basic needs and health services, rehabilitating public infrastructure, rebuilding the livelihoods of affected communities, reviving local economies, and ensuring decision-making based on data and information systems.
The Task Force has also been authorized to establish several sub-committees, including those focused on post-disaster needs assessments, public infrastructure restoration, housing reconstruction, revitalization of local economies and livelihoods, restoration of social infrastructure, financial and fund management, data systems, and public communication.
The Gazette states that the President’s stated objective is to ensure high-level coordination, evidence-based prioritization, and transparent implementation of post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery activities under the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” program.
It further states that the Task Force is required to submit periodic reports on its activities to the President.
“Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Presidential Task Force
Chairperson
Ms. Harini Amarasuriya
– Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training
Members
Ms. H.M. Vijitha Herath
– Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
Ms. A.H.M.H. Mr. Abayaratne
– Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government
Hr. Lal Kantha
– Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation
Hr. Upali Pannilage
– Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment
Hr. Sunil Handunnetti
– Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development
Hr. Bimal Ratnayake
– Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development
Hr. Nalinda Jayatissa
– Minister of Health and Mass Media
Hr. Anil Jayantha Fernando
– Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
Hr. Patabendige Dammika
– Minister of Environment
Hr. Susil Ranasinghe
– Minister of Housing, Construction and Minister of Water Supply
Hon. Hanif Yusuf
– Governor, Western Province
Hon. Aruna Jayasekara
– Deputy Minister of Defence
Dr. N. S. Kumanayake
– Secretary to the President
Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma
– Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
H.S.S. Thuiyakontha
– Secretary, Ministry of Defence
B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi
– Commissioner General of Essential Services and
Secretary, Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure
Dr. Hans Wijesuriya
– Senior Advisor to the President
H.S.K.J. Mr. Bandara
– Director General of Government Information
Mr. Rohana Hettiarachchi
Mrs. Malarmathi Gangadaran
Mr. Upul Kumarapperuma, Attorney-at-Law to the President
Mrs. Samantha De Silva
Mrs. Mandana Ismail
Mr. Parakrama Dissanayake
Secretary
Mr. G.M.R.D. Aponso
– Secretary to the Presidential Task Force