High-Level Committee appointed for Foreign Relief
Aid Coordination - HL-FRAC
December 09, 2025
A newly appointed High-Level Committee for Foreign Relief Aid (Supplies) Coordination (HL-FRAC) convened on 08 December at the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Colombo, to strengthen the national system for receiving, coordinating, and distributing foreign relief aid to communities affected by the recent disaster.
The committee, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) focused on establishing an efficient, transparent, and accountable framework to ensure that all forms of foreign aid received reach the most severely affected and vulnerable groups without delay.
Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) also participated in the meeting, providing valuable guidance on operational and logistical requirements necessary to support the enhanced distribution mechanism. The committee emphasized that integrating defence sector capabilities would improve ground-level coordination and strengthen oversight throughout the relief process.
During the discussions, members agreed on the establishment of a centralized mechanism to manage incoming foreign support. This includes preparing an updated list of priority regions based on the severity of impact and identifying specific needs within affected communities to ensure targeted assistance.
A comprehensive inventory management and tracking system was also introduced to monitor the movement of relief items from receipt to final distribution. This real-time reporting structure is expected to reinforce transparency, ensure accurate documentation, and build public trust in the relief operations.
The committee reaffirmed that accountability, clarity, and timely implementation are key to enhancing the effectiveness of national disaster relief efforts and maintaining the integrity of the aid distribution process.
Senior officials representing the Presidential Secretariat, Commanders of the Tri-Forces, Additional Secretary and Director General of the DMC, and the Ministry of Public Administration, and senior officials from the Ministry of Defence attended the meeting.
