The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, the Opposition is ready to help and cooperate on behalf of the people affected by this national disaster. That is why the Leader of the Opposition immediately called for a declaration of a state of emergency, and met foreign envoys seeking assistance. Our Members sought a debate to air concerns. This autocratic Government denied that opportunity.

¶ 02 The Minister of Public Security now says the Government learned on the 25th. The lawful authority to issue weather statements is the Director-General of Meteorology. The Government should act on those data. The “Michuang” cyclone affected South India with only about three reported deaths there—one cannot stop a cyclone, but you can minimize damage. Two weeks earlier the DG had publicly warned: the Bay of Bengal was disturbed; rain would intensify; precautions were needed. He even said the A/L exams could be affected. On the 12th he again warned of low pressure; on the 14th reiterated it; on the 17th forecast rainfall exceeding 100 mm. Did the Government not hear or see? Senior scientists like Malith Fernando also warned on Nov. 21–22. TV channels like Derana and Hiru showed satellite imagery on the 25th. What did the Government do?

¶ 03 In such cases, you convene all stakeholders—RDA, Health, etc.—and push instructions down to Grama Niladharis. Did you hold even one meeting before Nov. 27? Who is the Disaster Management Minister? The President holds Security, Finance, Digital, and Disaster portfolios; 171 institutions under him. He has grabbed all the baskets and done little. The National Council for Disaster Management has not yet been convened during this event. The first circular came only on Nov. 27. Had you acted earlier, the damage could have been reduced.

¶ 04 Worse, I hear the Defence Secretary summoned the Met DG and warned him not to speak to the media. Is it a crime to warn the nation? You are drifting towards one-man rule. You also illogically declared Nov. 28 a public holiday amid an emergency, immobilizing the bureaucracy when power and phones were down.

¶ 05 Regarding relief: under the good governance administration we created a National Insurance Trust for natural disasters, paying up to Rs. 2.5 million for a destroyed house, Rs. 2.5 million to businesses, Rs. 1 million per death, and more—over Rs. 1.5 billion was paid. Those schemes have been neglected. Now about 400 houses are reported fully destroyed; around 30,000 partly damaged. What will you pay? Rs. 25,000 is not a solution. Deaths exceed 1,000, and hundreds of thousands are affected. There are complaints of partisan distribution—even using electoral registers to issue food in Biyagama while migrant workers are left out. The Government must answer.

¶ 06 Our farmers’ fields are ruined; advances must be given now for seed and fertilizer, without delay. In 2018, after northern floods, we acted within days. Reports say the Health Ministry has barred others from setting up health camps—this is a time for everyone, including private media and institutions, to help. Do not stifle civic effort.

¶ 07 Tourism has also been hit: cancellations are rising. What is your plan to protect the sector? We again urge: convene the National Council for Disaster Management with the President, PM, Opposition Leader, Ministers and Opposition Members together.

¶ 08 We will not seek political gain from tragedy. We helped after Easter 2019 too. We are ready to help now. Please also restore the disaster insurance scheme. Use available external loans—e.g., AIIB USD 110 million for upcountry rail slope stabilization—efficiently, and provide accurate statistics on the dead and missing. Thank you.