Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that the primary cause of recurring flooding in Colombo is unauthorized construction carried out to serve personal political interests.
She made these remarks while addressing the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee.
“It is very clear that the people of the Colombo District are facing such a dangerous situation due to decisions taken without proper planning, based on political agendas—especially personal political agendas. As the President has emphasized, we have decided that unauthorized constructions and building in high-risk areas will not be allowed in the future. We also discussed the need for people living in risky areas in the Colombo District to consider alternatives,” she said.
The Prime Minister further stated that measures are underway to formulate a unified plan for flood control in the district.
“We cannot allow unauthorized construction and settlements in the name of development, without planning or adherence to regulations. To ensure the safety of Colombo residents, we cannot permit floods to become an annual part of their lives. We held discussions with the relevant institutions regarding the required steps. Accordingly, we have proposed that all institutions work together to formulate and implement a common plan for flood control in the Colombo District,” she added.
