The Hon. S. M. Marikkar

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, recently it was said, “When the ruler is unjust, floods, landslides, and cyclones come.” Those were not our words; a senior Minister on the Government’s front bench said it. We do not say such things.

¶ 02 This cyclone is a natural phenomenon. The problem is different. When we spoke about this in recent days, we were told we were lying and misleading people. Because they do not let us show videos here, I brought the recordings. On 12 November, the Director-General of the Department of Meteorology issued warnings at a press briefing; on 14 November, again. On 17 November, he spoke; on 22 and 23 November, further written alerts were issued. If anyone says we lie, I will table these.

¶ 03 On 25 November, BBC reported Sri Lanka could receive 400–500 mm. “Hiru” News reported that rivers would overflow and the cyclone would come. I am tabling the Met Department’s warnings, the BBC and Hiru reports, and Disaster Relief Services Circular 03/2025. Enough blaming the media. I know the President is in Parliament and may be listening. Accept this mistake. Mistakes happen; accept and fix them. Launching smear squads at Pelawatte to attack us will not silence us. Nor will letting two dozen YouTubers insult us with police protection. We will say what must be said. I even laugh with my friend Minister Lalkantha when I speak the truth.

¶ 04 This cyclone did not come in secret; the whole region sounded sirens. Every country prepared; in India, deaths were as low as three because they prepared. You were asleep and then blamed the Opposition and unleashed mud-slinging; that will not resurrect the dead or prevent future harm.

¶ 05 From here on, if the Government wants to correct course, accept the truth. The Secretary of Defence issued a letter declaring a disaster retrospectively effective from the 21st, dated the 28th. There is also a question of legality; he does not have that authority. I am a member of the Disaster Management Committee. Since this Government came, it has been convened only once—around July or August at the Presidential Secretariat. After that, never. The Act says the Council must meet at least once every three months; it has not.

¶ 06 Some may wish to use this crisis for politics. We do not. I said even then: the Government has four more years; fix these mistakes. We attended every meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. At the President’s meeting on the 27th, I proposed convening the Disaster Management Committee immediately; I was told “Not necessary now,” and then called for 6.30 p.m. for a 7.15 p.m. meeting at Defence—this is the kind of deficiency to acknowledge. The next day, the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee met; we contributed. Then the Kolonnawa Coordinating Committee met; we contributed and shared field experience. We warned about Kelani River flooding and asked for moving pumps; nothing was done. I also said Rs. 2,000 per house is insufficient for meals; the DMC official falsely claimed it could be given. Ask State Minister Eranga Gunasekara who chaired Kolonnawa if I am lying. Understand these deficiencies and fix them.

¶ 07 We now hear infrastructure damage is Rs. 900 billion—USD 3 billion. The US gave USD 2 million; Australia AUD 1 million; the UK GBP 890,000; China USD 1 million; New Zealand USD 1 million. We need USD 3,000 million. I propose: prepare a proper, accurate presentation of the damage; share it with the international community; convene an international donor conference; publicize through global media. Even Uvindu Kurukulasuriya, a supporter of the President, says via RTI that details of the smear squads will be exposed. Stop the mud. Government and Opposition must jointly assess damages, decide necessary actions, prepare a presentation, hold a donor conference, and seek aid and further debt relief.

¶ 08 We did not politicize. We could have stood aside saying, “You elected the Government; handle it,” but we gave maximum support. It is the Government that seems bent on politicizing. Yesterday, the Kolonnawa Divisional Secretary instructed that, in addition to designated officers, the recommendation of the Chair of the People’s Development Committee and the Disaster Management Committee be attached to relief forms. People returned home only yesterday; they have no chairs, tables, beds; children’s schoolbooks are gone; houses are muddy. If so, release the funds immediately—yesterday was a bank holiday; pay today. The Grama Niladhari is the Government’s representative in the village—not the IVP or any politician. PDCs and DMCs include JVP representatives—why their recommendation? Everyone knows the flood came; the GN knows and is the competent officer. Requiring political recommendations is illegal. Any Divisional Secretary or District Secretary who enforces such unlawful orders must know they will be held accountable in the future. Only the GN, Disaster Officer, Samurdhi Officer, or Economic Development Officer may sign—no one else. These are taxpayers’ funds.

¶ 09 Next they will try to put party symbols and politicize dry-ration distribution. We tell the President: though you were elected by a slim margin, you are President of all 22 million; head of State; trustee of public funds. No one owns the people’s money. Do not allow politicization. The only one working sensibly is the President; therefore, please stop such practices. Do not politicize this 159 business—support must be for the country, not political games.

¶ 10 Now the Met DG is unseen; supposedly silenced by the Defence Secretary. Recently, the DG appeared to record a forecast from a hidden room, speaking fearfully. Can a country be run with scolding, insults, and fear? I do not know if the President is aware; I draw his attention.

¶ 11 We also acknowledge good actions. I thank the Prime Minister for hard work—I saw it. We attended all meetings. But in one meeting chaired by the PM, no one from LECO attended; from the CEB, the officer did not even know when power would be restored to Kolonnawa and Kaduwela. Do not subject the PM to such embarrassment; a DGM or Chairman must attend and answer. That was an insult. At the very least, convene the National Council for Disaster Management now. Present the correct assessment of damage and discuss next steps.

¶ 12 When it comes to the small tea exporters from Ambatale to Sedawatta, their factories were submerged; machinery destroyed; many were uninsured; many people in Kolonnawa work there and have lost jobs. Give at least a moratorium. Fast-track their SVAT refunds; they need capital to restart. Do not delay refunds with petty queries. Also, Russia’s labeling system for tea exports is due from 1 April; request grace periods through diplomatic channels, as compliance needs time. Take these steps to set the country back on track, to revive our economy with unity and expertise, admitting what we do not know and bringing in experts. Let Sri Lanka rise again.