He made these remarks during a discussion held today (03) with party leaders and party representatives.
Wickremesinghe claimed that the worsening impact of the current disaster was a direct result of the government’s failure to uphold the Constitution. He said that although government institutions were sensitized in 2025 through workshops and seminars on the National Disaster Management Plan 2023–2030, the provisions of the Disaster Management Act were not implemented on Thursday, November 27.
He further alleged that many departments and officials responsible for disaster management were inactive because Friday, November 28, had been declared a holiday.
Wickremesinghe also criticised what he called the politicisation of aid distribution, claiming that assistance was being channelled outside the authority of Parliament, the Cabinet and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), through what he described as a parallel relief fund.
“There was no strategy to deal with this disaster,” he said, adding that the government also lacked proper plans for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Given what he termed the government’s inexperience, the UNP leader urged Parliament to appoint an Oversight Committee on Disaster Management and Reconstruction, chaired by an experienced Member of Parliament.
