Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the government to ensure that all relief promised to those affected by Cyclone Ditwa is delivered without delay, even as the country marks the New Year.
Speaking at an event held under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s ‘Husma’ programme, Premadasa said it was important not to forget the silent majority who continue to suffer due to deaths, displacement, unemployment and hardship caused by the recent disaster.
He made these remarks while donating hospital equipment worth Rs. 2.8 million to the Karawanella Base Hospital, including five patient monitors, a syringe pump and an infusion pump. The donation was aimed at strengthening healthcare services in disaster-affected areas following Cyclone Ditwa.
Premadasa noted that research conducted by Australia’s Monash University, which studied 217 cyclones across nine countries between 2000 and 2019, found that post-disaster deaths often exceed fatalities recorded during the disaster itself, mainly due to weaknesses in hospital systems and healthcare infrastructure.
He said the ‘Husma’ programme was designed to prevent a similar situation in Sri Lanka by supporting the health sector in affected regions.
Calling for proper utilisation of allocated funds, Premadasa said the government must distribute relief payments as promised through an efficient and transparent mechanism. He also stressed the need for major reforms in Sri Lanka’s disaster management framework, including elevating disaster management to a Cabinet-level subject, establishing new institutions, and strengthening early warning systems such as Doppler radar technology.
Referring to India’s experience following the Odisha super cyclone, Premadasa said Sri Lanka must learn lessons from countries that have successfully reduced disaster-related fatalities through improved planning and preparedness. He added that despite the heavy loss of life during the 2004 tsunami, Sri Lanka has yet to fully adopt long-term disaster mitigation strategies.
Premadasa further urged the government not to dismiss proposals made by the opposition, stating that Samagi Jana Balawegaya is ready to support any international donor conference aimed at assisting Sri Lanka’s recovery and strengthening disaster resilience. (Newswire)
