The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana

¶ 01 Sustainable Solution for Flood Control in Kelani Valley

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I move the following Adjournment Motion:

¶ 03 “Our people are compelled to live under increasing climatic impacts with many socio-economic and environmental problems.

¶ 04 Rivers in the wet zone such as Kelani, Kalu, Gin, Nilwala, and Mahaweli overflow not merely once a year but several times due to heavy rains, gravely disrupting lives and the economy.

¶ 05 On the left bank of the Kelani basin, Kolonnawa, Kaduwela, Homagama, Awissawella, and on the right bank, Kelaniya, Biyagama, and Dompe are among the most affected electoral divisions. No government thus far has gone beyond ad hoc relief to provide permanent solutions to these natural disasters. Therefore, under the present Government, we propose that relevant State institutions, expert groups, and people’s representatives be brought together under a broad coordination mechanism to work towards a sustainable solution.”

¶ 06 The Kelani Valley is in the wet zone. The tri-modal monsoon pattern—Northeast monsoon (Dec–Feb), Southwest monsoon (May–Sep), and inter-monsoon (Mar–Apr)—makes our country lush, but climate change has increased extreme rainfall, bringing repeated floods. In 2016 alone, Rs. 53.5 billion was spent on relief after devastating floods—an unbearable fiscal burden.

¶ 07 Both Colombo and Gampaha districts flank the Kelani River. Instead of only distributing dry rations and temporary relief each time, we must go beyond to permanent solutions. We should coordinate the Irrigation Department, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment, the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, Disaster Management Centre, and experts through a decisive plan to end the recurring disasters faced by Kelani Valley communities. Thank you.