The Hon. Ananda Wijepala – Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, first, I express condolences to the families of those who died due to this disaster.

¶ 02 From the moment the Meteorological Department issued warnings, we took all necessary steps as a Government. Some Members have made incorrect statements. For example, in Kurunegala District we used public address systems on three occasions to evacuate people along the Deduru Oya. The Police have reported their actions; the Road Development Authority and other relevant agencies also took decisions. Under the major river projects, water inflows to reservoirs were managed. The tri-forces and Police also took pre-emptive steps.

¶ 03 After the disaster, on 27 November, the President convened a meeting in Parliament with Government and Opposition Members to brief them and discuss measures. The Opposition Leader also attended. Therefore, some Opposition statements are false propaganda.

¶ 04 An Hon. Member claimed the circular was issued only on the 5th. In fact, two circulars were issued on the 29th: one by the Defence Secretary and another by the Director-General of the National Budget Department.

¶ 05 In disaster management, the first priorities are to safeguard and evacuate people, place them in safe shelters, provide cooked food, and then provide dry rations. Those circulars on the 29th enabled that. We took all possible steps immediately. The President personally intervened as the subject Minister. Helicopters and boats – Government, fishing and private – were deployed for rescues. Public representatives, tri-forces, Police, and officials from Grama Niladhari up to Secretaries all worked with dedication. I thank them all.

¶ 06 The National Council for Disaster Management had not met for seven years under previous administrations. In August, the President reconvened it and initiated amendments to address gaps in the 2005 Act, and issued directions for preparedness.

¶ 07 Now, our focus is threefold: (1) restore public infrastructure – bridges, roads, culverts, irrigation; district and divisional administrations are acting and funds are being provided; (2) address private property – fully and partially damaged houses have been enumerated; (3) assist affected people – about 610,000 families (around 2.2 million people) used about 1,200 shelters at peak; now shelters are down to 709, with 25,976 families (about 80,678 people). Many have returned home. We allocated Rs. 25,000 per family for cleaning and basic utensils; Rs. 17.6 billion has been provided to District and Divisional Secretaries; Rs. 6.4 billion has already been paid to 257,000 families. Of the 610,000 affected families, we estimate 493,000 are eligible for this grant, and we expect to complete payments within the next week; funds are available.

¶ 08 We have begun paying Rs. 50,000 per household for household equipment. For crop losses – paddy, banana, vegetables and export crops – the Agrarian Development and Agriculture Departments have initiated compensation mechanisms. For fisheries and livestock losses, we are finalizing schemes. For affected businesses and industries, concessional loans with grace periods at low interest are being arranged.

¶ 09 In past conflicts, millions were displaced for decades and received meagre housing grants of Rs. 150,000–200,000 and languished in camps under prior administrations. In contrast, we aim to close relief centres swiftly, support everyone with dry rations and shelter, and where return is unsafe, we will resettle or relocate them. Unsafe occupants will be moved to State lands or private lands made available – for example, a 20-acre land from a Buddhist temple at Malsiripura in Kurunegala has been offered.

¶ 10 We also honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice: five Army/Navy personnel, a Police officer, a CEB worker, and an Air Force officer. We convey our respect and condolences to their families. Countless public officers – GNs, Samurdhi officers, Economic Development and Agriculture officers, field staff, Divisional and District Secretaries – worked tirelessly. Some Opposition Members attempted to cast aspersions on officials; we reject that.

¶ 11 For affected schoolchildren, Rs. 10,000 from the President’s Fund and Rs. 15,000 from the Treasury – a total of Rs. 25,000 – will be provided, to be completed within one to two weeks.

¶ 12 As a Government, we will take every step to protect affected citizens and secure their future.