The importance of gaining a clear understanding of how Sri Lanka’s responsible institutions operate during natural disasters such as Cyclone Ditwah was discussed at the first meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee tasked with studying the country’s lack of preparedness.
The Committee, chaired by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, convened in Parliament last week (19), during which Minister Jayatissa stressed that identifying institutional roles and responses is crucial to effectively carrying forward the Committee’s work.
To this end, members agreed to summon officials from the Disaster Management Centre, the Department of Meteorology, the Department of Irrigation, and the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka to the next two meetings for preliminary briefings. It was also proposed that technical experts with specialized knowledge be called upon periodically to assist in clarifying complex matters.
According to a Parliament statement, the Committee is required to submit its report to Parliament within three months, by June 19, 2026.
The Chair noted that the report will not only address the shortcomings revealed by Cyclone Ditwah but also include recommendations for establishing stronger mechanisms to respond effectively to future disasters.
The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament Anuradha Jayaratne, Hector Appuhamy, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, M.K.M. Aslam, Anushka Thilakaratne, Kanthasamy Prabhu, Ruwan Mapalagama, and Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa also participated with special permission from the Chair. (Newswire)