More than Rs. 94 billion have been disbursed by NGOs and INGOs for humanitarian response operations, including tsunami-related operations, from 2004/05 up to April this year, according to a survey by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
The Central Bank recently surveyed a sampling of 32 NGOs and INGOs, covering amounts of funds pledged, confirmed and disbursed for humanitarian response operations in Sri Lanka, including monies for proposed future projects and their budgets.
Organisations surveyed include the International Federation of Red Cross; the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society; Muslim Aid; Oxfam GB; Save the Children Sri Lanka; Sarvodaya Suwasetha Sewa Society Ltd, PAFFREL (People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections), and the World Vision National Office.
More than 98 percent of funds received from 2004/05 to April 2008 have been from foreign sources, according to the survey.
A total of Rs. 32.4 billion in aid was collected in 2007. In the first quarter of 2008, a total of Rs. 11.4 billion was collected from both local and foreign sources.
The majority of funds have been disbursed for shelter and housing projects, with Rs. 13.2 billion spent on shelter and housing in 2007, and a relatively lower amount spent on infrastructure development.
The amount disbursed for education increased from Rs. 687.2 million and Rs. 643.8 million in 2004/05 and 2006 respectively to Rs. 2.1 billion in 2007. Up to April this year, Rs. 85.8 million have been disbursed for education for 2008.
The amount spent for disaster management has increased progressively over the years: Rs. 558.8 million in 2004/05; Rs. 944.4 million in 2006, and Rs. 1.2 billion in 2007.
An equal amount has been disbursed for programme support and facilitation in 2004/05, 2006 and 2007. The amount disbursed for relief projects and activities has decreased, from Rs. 6.4 billion in 2004/05 to Rs. 1.8 billion in 2007. So far this year, Rs. 918 million has been spent on relief projects.
Out of Rs. 23.9 billion set aside for major activities and projects in 2004/05, Rs. 6.4 billion was spent on relief; Rs 4.6 billion on shelter and housing, and Rs. 4.5 billion on programme support and facilitation. Sums of Rs. 355.9 million and Rs. 358.5 million were spent on infrastructure development and organisational development respectively.
A sum of Rs. 8.4 billion was disbursed for projects and activities in 2006, out of which Rs. 8.4 billion was spent on shelter and housing. | 
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