The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, Hon. Arkham MP also said he would give me five minutes. I kindly request that time as well.

¶ 02 The President’s intervention and leadership have drawn global attention. This is indeed a disaster, but he has turned it into an opportunity under the banner “Rebuilding Sri Lanka,” demonstrating how to act in such a crisis. From the very moment of the calamity, I believe no one in this country has endured longer hours and greater pressure without sleep than our President. He personally checked on everyone: on us, on the leadership provided at district level, spoke not only with us but with District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, and even our party’s grassroots organizers in the National People’s Power. He verified everything. We should value that exceptional diligence. Otherwise, we would fail as human beings.

¶ 03 That is why the UN’s Resident Representative in Sri Lanka observed that in their own country they have never seen such a situation: the people’s unity and solidarity were extraordinary. For a country struck by a disaster to receive such international attention, it must have distinctive leadership. That is what has influenced us.

¶ 04 I know personally, as a member of the National Council for Disaster Management and as one involved in this response, how President Anura Kumara Dissanayake acted to guide us. Officers in the Ministry of Finance and other ministries, and especially the Director-General of the Disaster Management Centre, Mr. Sampath Kotuwegoda, made notable interventions. If you speak with a clear conscience, you will agree every telephone call you made was answered. The Defence Secretary, Mr. Sampath Thuyyakontha, answered every call without discrimination. Our need—of the President and of all of us—was to face this as a country, not as parties or individuals. That experience has been invaluable.

¶ 05 Previously, officials feared that post-action audits after the 2004 tsunami relief, or after COVID-19 assistance, would punish them; thus they worked under immense pressure. Now that fear has changed. Voluntary service has become a part of the public service. A disaster is a disaster, but it proved how vital voluntary service is for a nation. That leadership was provided by none other than our President Anura Dissanayake. As a party, we are proud to have such a leader; as a nation, people recognize this too. Even if not voiced, I know it is in your conscience as well. Since the President is not in the House during this debate, not acknowledging this would be ungrateful.

¶ 06 Officials in affected districts worked even while their own homes were under pressure. Some Divisional Secretaries’ houses were damaged; some Grama Niladhari houses were buried. Yet they worked for the people. Some District Secretaries did not go home for days. I bow to all such public servants. Our ministry too worked from the outset. When we asked for food or supplies to distribute, ordinary people gave us more than we asked for—especially in Badulla District. That is what a country should be. Sadly, we did not feel that level of support from Parliament, but we did from the nation, and we express gratitude to the people.

¶ 07 The next step is recovery. Sri Lankans have shown they can work normally in normal times and exceptionally in exceptional times. Therefore, we are confident we will rise from this in a short time—more quickly than Jakarta in Indonesia, or other countries like the Philippines and Thailand that faced similar events. With that assurance, I conclude. Thank you.