HL-FRAC Bolsters End-to-End Coordination of Foreign Relief Supplies

The High Level Committee for Foreign Relief Aid (Supplies) Coordination (HL-FRAC), chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), convened its third meeting on 15 December at its Secretariat at the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Colombo.

Supported by a Secretariat at the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC), the Committee is mandated to coordinate, manage, and distribute all foreign humanitarian relief assistance received in the aftermath of the recent disaster. Its oversight spans the entire relief supply chain, including the receipt and verification of consignments, warehousing, allocation, dispatch, and last-mile delivery to affected communities.

During the meeting, members reviewed the progress of ongoing relief operations, discussed implementation challenges, and addressed issues related to the receipt, storage, and distribution of humanitarian aid. Special focus was placed on operations at the Orugodawatte relief warehouse, with emphasis on enhancing efficiency, accountability, and inter-agency coordination.

The Committee also examined the performance of the Foreign Aid Tracking System, which enables real-time monitoring of incoming and distributed relief supplies. Ministries and local authorities were reminded of the need to submit regular updates to ensure transparency and effective coordination. HL-FRAC is empowered to request information, summon relevant officials, and issue directives to streamline relief operations.

Emphasizing the importance of timely coordination, accurate reporting, and strengthened collaboration among agencies, the Deputy Minister of Defence underscored the need to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches affected communities swiftly and without delay.

Senior officials from the Sri Lanka Army, Police, and other relevant state institutions were present at the meeting.