The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, typically state power executes public service; nevertheless, in this disaster we in the Opposition joined hands to assist those affected. The previous speaker mischaracterized UN praise: the UN Resident Coordinator commended the unity and solidarity of the people, not the Government’s administrative performance.

¶ 02 Relief and resettlement remain slow: housing, land allocation, and compensation for full and partial damages are delayed. The Minister claimed the President phoned me from the Committee Room; indeed he did, and we immediately went there, suspending our other work, because disasters demand unity.

¶ 03 I hold here the Disaster Management Act, No. 13 of 2005. Why was Section 11 not invoked to declare a state of disaster? Under Section 12, once declared, facilities and equipment could have been mobilized swiftly. Delays show shortcomings.

¶ 04 On compensation: promised Rs. 1 million per death—has it been fully paid? Our information is that only a small fraction has received more than Rs. 100,000, while many bereaved families have received only Rs. 100,000 so far. Has key money been provided for renters? Some in camps are being told to return to unsafe homes; naturally, camp numbers drop, but people need durable solutions. The pledge to pay Rs. 100,000 even for a lost roofing sheet—has that been honoured?

¶ 05 We need scientific, not ad hoc, interventions. Massive landslides, rockfalls and precarious boulders cannot be “fixed” by dumping soil; NBRO-led engineering solutions and designated safe sites are needed. The Government circulated a large promise matrix, but implementing regulations are unclear. Associations of Grama Niladharis and Divisional Secretaries have written that current circulars/regulations are inadequate to deliver the promised relief. I table two such letters.

¶ 06 I urge the Government: deliver what you promised—Rs. 100,000 for roofing loss (as claimed), Rs. 250,000 and Rs. 500,000 for partial and full house damage, and land grants where needed, including the additional Rs. 500,000 for land if no plot is available.

¶ 07 More broadly, our disaster governance must be overhauled. After the tsunami that took 35,000–40,000 lives, we failed to institutionalize lessons. Disaster management should not be fragmented across Ministries or held solely under the President; establish a dedicated Cabinet Ministry with a new or strengthened legal framework. Provide modern equipment and technology to the Meteorology Department, NBRO, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, and the Disaster Management Centre.

¶ 08 Doppler radar installation must be completed urgently—Puttalam is underway with Japanese assistance; expedite Pottuvil. We have called for an international donors’ conference; if the Government rejects our proposal, make it your own and proceed—we will support it.

¶ 09 The Central Bank Governor has suggested a new IMF arrangement and revisiting programme conditions. World Bank’s January 2026 Global Economic Prospects projects our growth at 3.5% in 2026 and 3.1% in 2027. With such growth, can we service USD 4–4.5 billion in 2028? If an IMF delegation visits next week, we are ready to meet them too, to advocate easing conditions in the national interest—if the Government permits. If you need Opposition support to renegotiate burdensome terms, we will help.

¶ 10 On MSMEs: admirable new credit schemes were announced, but over 50% of MSMEs are blacklisted in CRIB, trapped in principal, interest and penalty spirals after four shocks—Easter attacks, COVID-19, bankruptcy, and Cyclone Ditwah. Your schemes must address non-performing loans and accumulated interest; otherwise, half the sector—contributing ~52% of GDP and livelihoods of ~4.5 million—will be excluded.

¶ 11 A note on terminology: please use “estate community” (Upcountry Malaiyaha community) rather than “estate labourers,” and go beyond wages—grant underutilized plantation lands to families to create smallholder-owners, boosting production and dignity.

¶ 12 Regarding helicopters: air assets are appropriate for relief. We mourn Capt. Nirmal, an aviator and my personal friend, who died in service during this operation, as well as our fallen service personnel and volunteers. Their sacrifice must guide us to do better.

¶ 13 Finally, implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. We have endorsed Hyogo and Sendai but failed to operationalize targets: reduce mortality; reduce affected populations; minimize economic losses relative to GDP; protect critical infrastructure; and build national and local DRR capacity. Craft the new law, structure and programmes around Sendai principles, under a dedicated Cabinet Ministry.

¶ 14 To those who say the Opposition did nothing: we met ambassadors, development partners and IFIs—World Bank, IMF, ADB—urging maximum assistance. We continue mobilizing philanthropy: we have supported 13 hospitals so far, allocating Rs. 43.8 million from donors, including providing a haemodialysis machine to Mahiyanganaya Hospital. We will not disappear after publicity; we persist.

¶ 15 Let us use this tragedy to build a modern, resilient disaster management system. Climate risks are rising. Learn from Odisha, India: after 10,000 deaths in the 1999 super-cyclone, they built systems that saved millions in 2013 and 2019 cyclones. May Sri Lanka never face such calamities again—but if we do, let us be prepared. We extend our collective gratitude—on behalf of all 225 Members—to public officials, armed forces, donors, and all who helped.