The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the impact of the “Dicha” cyclone. Similar cyclonic conditions and disasters occurred concurrently across the region—Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam. In Indonesia’s Aceh Province (Nov. 22–25), over a thousand deaths were reported, and camps are still not fully established. Compared to these, Sri Lanka reduced fatalities and impacts, set up shelters quickly, and restored normalcy within a short time.

¶ 02 These climatic events are linked to environmental degradation globally and domestically over time. The recent cyclone also damaged our ecosystems. Protected wildlife—including elephants—and endemic freshwater fish such as Bandula Pethiya and Asoka Pethiya suffered due to landslides, bank collapses and flood surges. We are conducting assessments.

¶ 03 National parks and botanical gardens under the Environment Ministry were also impacted. Accordingly, on 11 December we appointed a special committee to assess ecosystem damages from the “Dicha” cyclone and guide restoration measures.