Sri Lankan authorities said Wednesday they would need some $7 billion to rebuild homes, industries and roads destroyed by Cy

Hopes have faded for the 366 other people unaccounted for after mudslides and floods triggered by the cy

"Our initial estimate is that we will need about six to seven billion dollars for the reconstruction," said Prabath Chandrakeerthi, the Commissioner-General of Essential Services who is leading the massive recovery effort.

Chandrakeerthi added that the government was providing 25,000 rupees ($81) to each family to help

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said foreign assistance was essential to finance the recovery, as the country was still emerging from its worst ever economic crisis three years ago.

Dissanayake de

"We were just coming out of the economic c

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