The Hon. (Dr.) Namal Sudarshana - Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs

¶ 01 Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, for this opportunity.

¶ 02 Within living memory and beyond, this is the gravest catastrophe we have faced. We are seeking Parliament’s approval for a Supplementary Estimate to provide necessary relief and the funds needed to restore the country. I am glad to offer some views during this debate.

¶ 03 This has become a nationwide disaster. Many districts were affected—unlike the tsunami which primarily impacted coastal areas. All districts in the Central Highlands and the North Western Province faced calamity. Due to the Deduru and Maha Oya basins, Kurunegala District was threatened by floods. Several schools faced landslide risks. Numerous landslides occurred in Kurunegala. About 27,529 families in Kurunegala District have been affected. Landslide risk persists in several areas, and some people are still in safe centers. As waters receded, many returned home. I thank the District Secretary, Divisional Secretaries, field officers, Grama Niladharis and all state officials who, together with political authorities and the public, faced this disaster. I also thank the Governor, the Provincial Chief Secretary, and their teams for their interventions in Puttalam and Kurunegala.

¶ 04 For the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, there is a special responsibility to intervene for children and women. We have received complete data from around 17 affected districts. Over one million children have been affected. We have been discussing with institutions and international organizations on resources to support these children, especially those in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers, to run special programmes.

¶ 05 About 250 families in Kurunegala remain displaced in safe centers, with around 825 persons. Relief continues. Across 17 districts, about 165,374 children have been affected; 10,088 children in 681 ECD centers have been impacted. We are discussing how to restore these centers and support the children. Many ECD centers are privately run; some are under local authorities. We are considering Government support to these centers and to the children. Over 100 centers have been completely destroyed due to recent disasters.

¶ 06 While physical rebuilding and relief proceed, we must address the psychosocial side. After such trauma, children and women can suffer psychological distress—depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions. A national programme is needed. Our Ministry alone cannot do this; therefore, we are coordinating with Health, Education, Social Security and Community Empowerment, and Public Administration to establish a medium-term psychosocial response plan. Many children cannot sleep, waking in fear at midnight. Women too are suffering. We have prepared a programme, commencing interventions on the 22nd and 24th, to build the capacity of our Ministry’s counsellors, Social Services Department counsellors at Divisional Secretariats, and school counsellors, and then train other field officers. Over about two years, we will work to restore those who have been psychosocially affected.

¶ 07 Additionally, the Opposition Leader raised a landslide in Gommunaawa. Some reports were tabled. In truth, the quarrying at Gommunaawa-Kaladuwetiya has been ongoing for years, starting around 2015–2016. People and youth protested; 36 were even complained against for allegedly obstructing state machinery. Landslides are the result now. A former Nuwara Eliya District Minister facilitated those permits. Forgetting that, some tried to suggest this disaster began only last year. As someone who knows Dodangaslanda, I must correct the record: the roots lie in decisions of the Yahapalana era. Thank you for the time.