Sri Lanka is continuing to advance its digital economy agenda while responding to the humanitarian and infrastructure challenges caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which affected more than 1.7 million people across the island. The government has introduced new digital initiatives to support relief efforts while reinforcing the role of digital infrastructure during national emergencies.
The Ministry of Digital Economy has enabled the state payment platform GovPay to streamline donations to the Disaster Relief Fund managed by the Ministry of Finance. Through GovPay, individuals can make instant, real-time donations via commercial banks and authorised fintech applications, ensuring transparency and ease of contribution from anywhere in the country.
To mobilise international support, the government has also launched an official website, “Stand With Sri Lanka,” allowing the global community, including Sri Lankans overseas, to provide financial assistance directly to designated government-managed bank accounts. Authorities have confirmed that all donations will be allocated to emergency relief operations, including food distribution, clean water and sanitation, medical assistance, and temporary shelter for displaced families.
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne said Sri Lanka’s digital initiatives would continue despite the disruption caused by the cyclone. He highlighted the role of resilient connectivity, noting that Starlink provided 25 free satellite connections to help restore damaged fibre networks after around 4,500 communication towers were knocked out of service.
Government agencies and telecom operators have coordinated closely to restore connectivity, prioritise emergency communications, and address power outages affecting transmission towers. With more than 5,000 homes destroyed and over 57,000 partially damaged, the government has earmarked Rs. 72.2 billion for relief and recovery, alongside preparations for an international donor conference to support reconstruction efforts.
