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

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, thank you for the opportunity. I must correct a blatant falsehood by Hon. Sujith Sanjaya Perera regarding Yatiyantota. As at 7 January 2026, in Yatiyantota DS, 1,083 people were eligible for the Rs. 50,000 household item grant; 1,075 had been paid — 99% — totaling over Rs. 53 million. For the whole Kegalle District, 8,388 were eligible, 7,850 paid — 93.59%. These are as at 7 January; today is the 21st.

¶ 02 I am surprised at the wording of the Motion which claims no clear programme before, during or after the disaster. The Government took measures even before impact, and special interventions after.

¶ 03 From the Environment Ministry, we appointed a nine-member committee on 11 December to assess environmental damage. I table the initial two-week report; a comprehensive report will follow within six months. The preliminary findings note flood, landslide and coastal erosion impacts to ecosystems: in the wet zone along Attanagalu Oya, Kelani and Kalu Ganga; in the dry zone along Malwathu Oya, Mahaweli, Walawe and Kala Oya; and significant landslide impacts in montane forests around Minipay, Kotmale, Aranayake, and areas of Badulla and Matale. About 34% of affected hill forests are natural montane forests. Coastal erosion was noted at Paitthadu (Paddiruppu/Peduruthuduwa), Valikamam North, Kalmunai–Nintavur, and Kinniya. Mangrove ecosystems in Mutupannya and Arachchikattuwa also suffered. The report recommends urgent detailed assessments and immediate restoration at specific sites. I table the report.

¶ 04 On Ambuluwawe: this geologically sensitive area experienced landslides and remains hazardous. We have suspended rebuilding in such areas without NBRO clearance. We instructed the Central Environmental Authority to halt, pending proper approvals, any construction related to the cable car project reportedly ongoing without due process. I table documents, including observations by the Auditor General, indicating serious irregularities: - On 10 June 2023, the Ambuluwawe Trust Board approved a Rs. 12 billion cable car project, to be built and leased to a separate company, with a 16% equity stake retained as “consideration.” - Without a proper procurement process, six days later, on 16 June 2023, a newly registered company “Amber Adventures” was engaged. During 2024, Rs. 93.15 million was spent via 19 vouchers without adequate supporting documentation. - A Rs. 250.3 million estimate was prepared for related infrastructure; 37% to be borne by the Trust.

¶ 05 The Auditor General recommends a formal investigation and action against those responsible for irregularities. There are also apparent conflicts of interest among Trust Board members and the company’s directors and shareholders. We have visited the site on 4 February, halted works temporarily, and will conduct a lawful review.

¶ 06 Tourism facilities under the Environment Ministry were rapidly reopened to protect the season: despite damage, by 10 December we reopened national parks (Yala, Wilpattu, Minneriya, Horton Plains, Kumana) and by 6 December the Peradeniya Botanical Garden; Dehiwala, Pinnawala and Ridiyagama facilities also reopened quickly. We also initiated coastal clean-ups from 10–19 December over identified 140.3 km of coastline, calculated at 5,280 person-hours.

¶ 07 Therefore, the Motion’s assertion that no clear programme exists is incorrect. Across ministries, the Government mounted a rapid, large-scale response.

¶ 08 Thank you.