Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Mr. Chairman, during the debate on the Heads of Expenditure of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, instead of the estimates themselves, I will use my time to speak on the calamity that has struck the country. As Members, we express our regret. On the first day we, on the Government side, requested time to discuss this grave situation and develop solutions in Parliament. The Government did not accommodate that day. As a result, constituencies like Gampola continue to suffer unresolved issues. Had we discussed this on the 1st in Parliament, at minimum the Government could have set out a plan. We regret that parliamentary time is now used to only advance the passage of the Budget while this major crisis persists.

¶ 02 Yesterday, many Members from both sides met the Kandy District Secretary. Our intention was genuinely to offer assistance, not to embarrass the Government or the State. However, some groups and parts of the media portrayed our visit as an attempt to undermine officials. That was not our aim. I personally arranged more than three lorry-loads of goods from private donors to Kandy and Gampola. We wanted to ensure these go to necessary places and to coordinate with the District Secretary. Yet, mudslinging followed.

¶ 03 As of 10.00 a.m. on the 2nd, the Kandy District Secretary’s office recorded 198 deaths in the Up-Country Divisional Secretariat Division alone. Consider only the bodies collected behind Sethsiri and the People’s Leasing premises. These are not my fabrications. If this is the Government’s response, it is deeply troubling.

¶ 04 We do not blame the Government for the landslides and natural calamity; those are acts of nature. But many issues arose in the process.

¶ 05 From the Rantambe Reservoir, during the heaviest rainfall, the normal outflow is about 3,500 cubic metres per second. The Mahaweli Authority said it could rise to around 5,800. In fact, 7,800 cubic metres per second were released. If that was known, why were people not warned earlier?

¶ 06 Further, all meetings scheduled for the 27th were cancelled by the Mahaweli Authority on the 26th, citing the situation. If they could do that, why could they not announce that a flood was coming towards Gampola? With 160 mm of forecast rain, Gampola would submerge. On that day, the Nilambe gauge recorded 440 mm. If 440 mm was recorded, why were villages vulnerable even at 160 mm not warned? Above Nawalapitiya, the Irrigation Department has a gauging station that measures Mahaweli River inflows. If that data had been communicated timely to Gampola, 80% of deaths could have been avoided. It was not done. For every life lost in Gampola, this Government must bear responsibility.

¶ 07 Then on the 30th, a rumour spread that the Kotmale Dam had cracked; people ran in panic; some fled into the hills; a three-wheeler with a loudhailer issued announcements. Some were told that a fissure had appeared in Kotmale. They returned only the following morning to find shops and homes looted. Why was there no proper communication? Today, with an SMS or WhatsApp message, you can alert the entire country: “No issue at Kotmale; only around 80 cubic metres per second being released safely.” Why could that not be sent?

¶ 08 Further, in Mawathura, 15 houses were swept away; more than 40 bodies lie on site. Not a single JCB was sent by the Government to retrieve them; even now, none. People pooled money to hire a JCB and buy fuel. Is this the Government’s plan?

¶ 09 The Nuwara Eliya main road remains closed at several sections; access via Atabage–Dunukeulla is blocked. Dialysis patients cannot be moved. No machinery came from RDA or PRDA to clear the road. This is why we asked to speak on the 1st to set a plan. We were not even given the chance to present our ideas. How will the country progress? This is a collapse of management.

¶ 10 Mr. Chairman, when many were trapped on second and third floors in Gampola on the 27th, we requested boats on the morning of the 28th. Boats arrived only at 6.00 a.m. on the 29th—far too late. If you knew of 400–500 mm of rain and imminent submergence, a plan to deploy dinghies should have been in place.

¶ 11 The Disaster Management Centre should have convened meetings and issued directives to District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, Municipal and Pradeshiya Sabhas. When did they last meet? No one was properly briefed; innocent people paid with their lives.

¶ 12 Now, at least, deploy machinery to open the Atabage–Dunukeulla axis and the Pussellawa route to Nuwara Eliya. We are on day six and still cannot reopen the main roads. Also clear the access to the Nilambe intake. Some GN divisions have not been reached; data is incomplete; we do not know how many are in temples and schools, or in danger. A deeper, proper plan is needed.

¶ 13 My proposals:

¶ 14 - A large number of estate workers are displaced, now in schools and temples, unable to return because homes have cracked or the land has slid. Bring a motion to allocate alternative lands for thousands. Private plantation companies will not voluntarily release land. Parliament must approve a mechanism to provide plots urgently so people can resettle safely.

¶ 15 - Many in Gampola and elsewhere, who built businesses over a lifetime—even importing machinery—have lost everything. Establish concessional loan schemes through State banks, with at least a one-year grace period, for those affected islandwide.

¶ 16 This task cannot be left to District and Development Committees alone; rebuilding bridges and embankments will cost billions. Therefore, under the Finance Ministry’s Heads today, allocate a separate fund for an urgent recovery and development programme for Kandy District. Implement these three proposals immediately. As Opposition, we will not obstruct; we will work with the Government.

¶ 17 Thank you.