Cyclone Ditwah

The Opposition yesterday(21) moved a motion seeking the appointment of a Parliament Select Committee (PSC) to conduct a comprehensive study on the lack of preparedness to face Cyclone Ditwah, despite advance warnings, and report to Parliament, and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard.

The motion proposed by a group of Opposition Members of Parliament was presented by the Chief Opposition Whip, Gayantha Karunathilleka and was seconded by Hambantota District SJB MP Dilip Wedarachchi.

According to the motion, the loss of lives, damage to property, and damage to the people caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which is considered to be the worst tragedy in the history of Sri Lanka, have not yet been assessed and, therefore, the Select Committee will be mandated to conduct a comprehensive study on the preparedness and the corresponding events.

The motion read: “Select Committee of Parliament to conduct a comprehensive study on the lack of preparedness to face Cyclone Ditwah and report to Parliament and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard,— Whereas the loss of lives, damage to property and damage to the people caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which is considered to be the worst tragedy in the history of Sri Lanka, have not yet been assessed;

And whereas action was taken to appoint Select Committees of Parliament in the recent times with regard to two such disasters, namely the Easter Sunday attack and the economic crisis as well;

And whereas it is believed that this disaster is unique as far as the disasters that have occurred so far are concerned;

And whereas it has already been revealed in Parliament that the Department of Meteorology and foreign media had from time to time warned about and forecasted this extremely tragic situation; and

Whereas the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah could have been prevented to a significant extent if the relevant parties had been prepared in advance to face the situation;

That this Parliament resolves that a Select Committee of Parliament be appointed to conduct a comprehensive study on the lack of preparedness to face Cyclone Ditwah and report to Parliament and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard.

2. (a) that the Chair and Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Speaker; and

(b) that in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 101 of Parliament, the Committee shall not consist of more than twelve (12) Members.

3. That the Committee shall have the power to—

(a) fix its quorum;

(b) summon any person to appear before it, to require any person to procure any document or record, to procure and receive all such evidence, written or oral, as the Committee may think it necessary for the fullest consideration of the matters referred to above;

(c) obtain the services of specialists and experts in the relevant fields to assist the Committee; and

(d) make interim reports from time to time and to sit notwithstanding any adjournment or prorogation of Parliament.

4. The Committee shall present its report to Parliament within a period of three months (03) from the first meeting of the Committee or within such further period as Parliament may grant.”

The motion has been signed by MPs Sajith Premadasa, Anuradha Jayaratne, Mujibur Rahman, Dilith Jayaweera, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Suranga Rathnayaka, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, J.C. Alawathuwala, Arjuna Sujeewa Senasinghe, B. Ariyawansha, Dilip Wedaarachchi, Kins Nelson, K. Kader Masthan, S.M. Marikkar, Dr. V.S. Radhakrishnan, M.A.M. Thahir, Rauff Hakeem, Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, Chamindranee Kiriella, Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna, Jagath Vithana, W. H. M. Dharmasena, R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Imran Maharoof, Hector Appuhamy, Namal Rajapaksa, Harshana Rajakaruna, and Gayantha Karunathilleka.