The Hon. Hector Appuhamy

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you. I speak as someone directly affected—my own house went under floodwaters—so I know this well.

¶ 02 First, I urge the Government: abandon arrogance and divisive rhetoric that demoralizes the service. Because of certain conduct, some officials hesitate to act. You have labeled everyone—politicians, officials, businesspeople—as thieves; now people fear to take decisions. If any mistake occurs, no one will back them.

¶ 03 Grama Niladharis compiling lists for cleaning grants often find houses empty; they fear to write names lest payments later be blocked and they are blamed. You said money once given will not be taken back and must be disbursed—now officials are in a bind. Remember, this flood did not spare only the poor; the middle class too suffered. I began rescue efforts around 11 p.m., sourcing boats and engines; fishermen from Wennappuwa, Balapitiya, Ulhitiya, Kammala, and the Police rendered great service.

¶ 04 I called the Disaster Management Centre the first night; they returned my call two days later asking whether those people were still there. As an MP I felt ashamed. The system has a grave problem.

¶ 05 I recall my schoolmate, Wing Commander Nirmal Siyambalapitiya, a skilled pilot, who died in a rescue mission. Honor him as a hero; likewise the Tri‑Forces and Police—accord due recognition.

¶ 06 In our district—Kalpitiya, Anamaduwa, Karuwalagaswewa, Neelabemma—paddy and other cultivations are destroyed; many middle‑class industries too. Losses in individual enterprises I know run to LKR 90–100 million, some billions. This drains circulating capital, reduces production, jobs, and exports—the export sector suffered heavy damage. To resolve these issues, you need everyone; do not alienate stakeholders with divisive talk.

¶ 07 On climate change, the world has been acting for years; successive governments here fell short. Our disaster institutions have buildings and staff, but we need knowledge and must pay for it. We need an early warning system; we did not have effective warnings. Learn from India: before landfall they prepare 250 relief centres, muster vehicles and manpower, issue red alerts, evacuate high‑risk homes, and ensure food and water. We failed to pre‑position such centres and systems when this struck.