Several opposition MPs led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today submitted a proposal to the Speaker, calling for the establishment of a parliament select committee to conduct a full investigation into the lack of preparedness ahead of Cyclone Ditwah.
In the proposal, the MPs described Cyclone Ditwah as the worst natural disaster in Sri Lanka’s history. They noted that the full extent of the damage to lives and property has yet to be determined but stressed that the scale of the disaster warranted urgent attention.
They said that weather warnings were issued in advance by the Department of Meteorology and international media outlets, with interpretations made available prior to landfall. Despite this, relevant authorities had failed to take adequate preparatory measures, the statement said.
The MPs said this lack of preparedness was deeply regrettable and asserted that many lives could have been saved if timely action had been taken.
They drew parallels to past crises—such as the Easter Sunday attacks and the economic collapse—during which special parliamentary committees were appointed. On that basis, they called for a similar committee to be formed to assess the failures surrounding Cyclone Ditwah and to produce a comprehensive report.
The proposal also requested that the committee consist of 30 members, with proportional representation from both government and opposition parties, and include members from all 22 districts affected by the cyclone. (Newswire)
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