The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 We are considering a Rs. 500 billion Supplementary Estimate. UNDP has presented substantial data on this disaster. Key points: 2.3 million people were affected; about 20% of the land area experienced inundation; approximately 530,000 hectares of paddy fields were affected; around 720,000 buildings were impacted—about 12% of all buildings. This shows the magnitude.

¶ 03 Recently, we engaged in relief work in Mahiyanganaya and Badulla. We saw two-storey houses where fridges from the ground floor had floated to the upper floor and then to the roof—water nearly 40 feet high. The downpour that usually falls over months fell in two days due to the cyclone. It is profoundly tragic.

¶ 04 From the outset, the President and the Government intervened properly—District, Divisional, and Local Coordinating Committees were convened; the entire state machinery, though strained, acted with maximum strength. The Civil Security Department, tri-forces, the public, and political activists cleaned homes, repaired bridges, and cleared canals and culverts, while some in the Opposition claimed there was no preparedness and no relief.

¶ 05 For example, in Ampara the Rs. 25,000 grant was 100% disbursed three to four days ago; elsewhere, most districts have surpassed 85–90%. The Rs. 50,000 cleaning/equipment grant is being disbursed and will likely finish by 31 December. Compensation up to Rs. 5 million for house reconstruction and up to Rs. 5 million for land purchase is being arranged. Despite efficient action, the Opposition hurls baseless mud. The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi’s remarks insult the South. We have respected religion; we have not engaged in theft or deception as in the past 76 years.

¶ 06 Rohana Wijeweera warned 40 years ago that the Central Highlands faced grave risk due to unscientific development, including hasty Mahaweli expansions and upper catchment tank and bund constructions—leading to landslides and floods. Rather than debating blame, we must focus on preventing recurrence and rebuilding.

¶ 07 Where do we find Rs. 500 billion? The Treasury has Rs. 1,200 billion. We are not borrowing, printing money, or taxing people for this. We will scientifically reallocate carefully collected public funds to build better roads, villages, homes, and environmental systems. Our task is to make Sri Lanka safe for future generations.

¶ 08 As astronaut Ron Garan observed: what divides us on Earth disappears from space. This island belongs to all—Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim—regardless of politics or wealth. We cannot build haphazardly or against nature and science without consequence. We must plan to minimize damage from inevitable natural hazards, and, rising above divisions, take this opportunity to steer Sri Lanka toward sustainable development. Thank you.