The Hon. Mujibur Rahuman

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson.

¶ 02 We are all sensitive to the loss of life and property. Natural disasters cannot be entirely prevented, but with proper management their toll can be reduced. After the tsunami we enacted a strong Disaster Management law intended to enable Government and Opposition to work together.

¶ 03 Today, ministers claim they were not properly informed. However, on 11 November the Met Department’s Director-General, Athula Karunanayake, briefed the media with early indications; on 14 and 17 November further statements were made; on 23 November meteorologist Malith Fernando warned of heavy rainfall, possible flooding, a depression likely evolving into a cyclone. Forecasts are forecasts, but they are based on expertise. Why didn’t the Government respond sensitively to these?

¶ 04 I table the Met Department’s 23 November, 4.00 p.m. advisory titled “Advisory for Strong Winds, Heavy Rainfalls and Rough Sea Areas,” which warned that the low over the southeast Bay would move northwest, become a depression around 24 November, and had a high likelihood to intensify into a cyclonic storm within 48 hours. Did the Government act on this?

¶ 05 Multiple institutions met between 17 and 27 November under the Disaster Management Centre and the Defence Ministry Secretary—DMC, NBRO, Road Development Authority, Met Department, CEB, NWSDB, and Fisheries Ministry—physically and via Zoom. If no disaster was foreseen, why did they meet? What decisions were taken? Were they escalated? Was the President—who is the subject Minister—informed? The President convened a meeting only on 27 November, but the Met advisory was on the 23rd.

¶ 06 The Defence Secretary issued a circular dated 28 November declaring the whole island under a widespread disaster situation “with effect from 21 November” (backdated), instructing relief for evacuated and affected persons. If the country was under disaster from the 21st, why was decisive action not initiated earlier? Was the President informed?

¶ 07 Regarding the Indian Meteorological Department alerts: I state responsibly that our Met Department was informed within hours. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa dismissed “The Indian Express” report on TV. If it was false, did the Government send a formal correction? Bring it to Parliament, not just TV talk.

¶ 08 If the Met Department is under the President, then accountability rests with him. He has been in office for a year. Now he says the Act must be amended. Why remember this only after “Dicha”? You had a year.

¶ 09 Arguing about the cyclone’s name—Dicha, Ranwala, or Ranjan Jayalal—is irrelevant. The point is, a cyclone was coming, and the warning existed.

¶ 10 There’s a saying: “There is a great book at home, yet nothing is remembered.” Your own manifesto “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life” spoke of amending disaster laws. A year has passed.

¶ 11 We request: read that book and act. We also asked today to appoint a Special Committee of Parliament to identify lapses and responsible officials so that justice is served to the affected and such failures are not repeated. Thank you.