Srilanka, Dec. 9 -- Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, stated that a proper disaster management plan and a weather warning system are essential to protect the country from future calamities.

He expressed these views during an interview with Al Jazeera television channel.

Question: Recovery and reconstruction costs after the floods recede are estimated to exceed $7 billion. Sri Lanka is already heavily indebted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after defaulting on its foreign debt in 2022. Where do you expect this money to come from?

Answer: The estimate actually is not complete yet. The World Bank and government agencies are working together. We will get an accurate estimate within a few weeks. However, we m...