HL-FRAC Drills Down on Governance of Incoming Foreign Relief Supplies

The fifth meeting of the High-Level Committee for Foreign Relief Aid (Supplies) Coordination (HL-FRAC) was held on 23 December at the Deputy Minister’s Office, chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).

Discussions drilled down on strengthening oversight, coordination, and the effective distribution of foreign humanitarian assistance received by Sri Lanka. Officials from the National Disaster Relief Services Centre took the Committee through warehouse management responsibilities and the operationalization of an IT-based inventory system to ensure accurate receipt and tracking of relief consignments.

The Deputy Minister flagged up key operational and administrative challenges and called for their immediate resolution. The Committee also mapped out district-level needs assessments through District Secretaries, reviewed the allocation of medical and first-aid supplies to the Veyangoda warehouse, and lined up other relief items for designated storage locations.

Measures to lock in regular progress reporting were examined to enhance transparency, efficiency, and the timely delivery of foreign relief assistance to affected communities nationwide. The meeting was attended by committee members and senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Disaster Management Centre, and relevant government agencies.