The Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen

¶ 01 [3.54 p.m.]

¶ 02 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

¶ 03 Hon. Presiding Member, I pay tribute to those who lost their lives and express sympathy to the injured and suffering. This unexpected disaster’s impact is still not compensated. In recent days we visited Kandy, Kamburupitiya, Kalloya, Trincomalee, Mannar, Vavuniya, Puttalam, and other affected places and saw the scale of damage. Even Rs. 500 billion may be insufficient.

¶ 04 The President visited many districts, including Mannar. We explained that Mannar’s fishers suffered greatly and requested a special programme; he promised to do so. Fishers in Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, and Puttalam also lost livelihoods and face hardship. They too need urgent assistance. Likewise, farmers need compensation swiftly. Despite presidential announcements, officials act inconsistently: even Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 payments are delayed. The President himself asked in a meeting why these cannot be combined and expedited. Some officials still haven’t visited affected homes, coming only after waters recede and asking for photos and proof, which is shameful.

¶ 05 In Puttalam, the salt industry is devastated, and major vegetable-producing household agriculture has been ruined. Transport routes are damaged; though the Minister of Highways and Urban Development tours districts, some places remain impassable for students. Please work with local authorities to urgently repair these.

¶ 06 Many displaced still live in camps, friends’ homes, or public places. Despite announcements and circulars, delays persist, with no clear guidance; we saw protests this morning outside Divisional Secretariats over the Rs. 25,000 delays.

¶ 07 I visited a completely devastated area in Kandy—losses amounting to crores. These people are not begging for Rs. 25,000 or 50,000; they lost everything they built. Yet they must travel miles to claim Rs. 25,000. The Government could disburse via local temples, schools, or mosques through Divisional Secretaries, but some Secretaries refuse. This is a moral duty.

¶ 08 Also, reports emerged from Alankuda that party affiliates demanded people collect relief only at their houses, causing conflict. Do not politicize relief; act humanely. Clergy of all faiths and ordinary people contributed generously before state aid even arrived; we thank them, and also India, Pakistan, UAE, and other countries for assistance. The Government must plan properly, use aid well, build long-term programmes, tighten laws, and prevent future disasters. Thank you.