The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I rise under Standing Order 27(2) to request an urgent Government statement regarding compensation payments and restoration for deaths, house destruction and widespread damage caused by Cyclone “Ditwah” on 28 November 2025.

¶ 02 Despite the President’s direction that all compensations be completed by 31 December 2025, affected citizens report severe delays, non-payment, returned cheques, and unsettled insurance claims. Media reports say tens of thousands still cannot return home. This must be treated with utmost seriousness.

¶ 03 For clarity and parliamentary scrutiny, I request the Prime Minister to provide the following:

¶ 04 1. Has the Disaster Management Centre officially approved a unified national loss and damage assessment? If so, what is the total estimated loss and on what date was it approved?

¶ 05 Hon. Speaker, I am informed the only damage estimate is from the World Bank at USD 4.1 billion, citing even a gossip column among sources—alongside reputed outlets like Hiru, Derana and Sirasa. Basing a USD 4.1 billion estimate on gossip is dangerous. The ILO has stated the impact is USD 18.1 billion, saying the country has lost its capital and needs fresh capital, preferably as grants rather than loans. I hope the Government moves prudently to secure such capital.

¶ 06 2. What is the total restoration cost broken down by housing, infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, industry and SMEs?

¶ 07 We understand SMEs have not been paid at all. About 38,900 SMEs were affected.

¶ 08 3. What is the affected population? Can you provide a district-wise breakdown of deaths and missing persons, displaced families, fully destroyed houses and partially damaged houses? Is it correct that approximately 48,000 still cannot return home?

¶ 09 In Colombo District, reports say about 98,800 houses were partially damaged and around 141 fully destroyed. Please clarify the true position.

¶ 10 4. What compensation categories, eligibility criteria and payment rates have been approved for households, bereaved families, farmers, SMEs and other affected groups? What is the legal, Cabinet or budgetary authority for these?

¶ 11 5. As at 31 December 2025 and as at today, what are the numbers and total values of payments made under each category—Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 emergency grants, Rs. 1,000,000 for deaths, and Rs. 1,000,000 to Rs. 10,000,000 for housing—also including payments to farmers and SMEs, broken down by district?

¶ 12 6. How many eligible beneficiaries remain unpaid, by category and district? What are the main reasons—verification delays, documentation issues, banking constraints, lack of funds?

¶ 13 7. What are the reasons for Government-issued compensation cheques being returned? How many such instances occurred and what corrective steps were taken?

¶ 14 Hon. Speaker, this is serious. Generally, a bouncing cheque is a criminal act. When this happens with Government cheques, it is unacceptable. We need to know how this occurred, especially where there are claims of over-issuance.

¶ 15 8. What steps has the Government taken to ensure insurers settle claims for Cyclone “Ditwah”? The State acts as counter-insurer. Reports say Rs. 48 billion remains unpaid—Rs. 4.8 billion in tens of billions’ terms not paid to claimants. How many claims and what total value remain unpaid?

¶ 16 9. What grants, loans and humanitarian assistance have been received from donors? Of that, how much has been spent on compensation and infrastructure restoration? When will the international donor conference be held?

¶ 17 Hon. Speaker, contributions to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund are visible—for instance, the Development Lotteries Board has contributed Rs. 15 million. But 35% of that would be taxed. These are taxpayers’ funds going from a state entity into the Fund, effectively reducing tax by 35% if treated as a deduction. Please instruct state entities not to donate to this Fund. Government money should anyway come to the Government, not be routed to the Fund to reduce tax. Private sector and overseas contributions are fine, but not from state bodies.

¶ 18 I request that estimates, allocations, payments, returned cheques, insurance status and unpaid balances be tabled with district-wise details.

¶ 19 Thank you.