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Message: <blockquote data-quote="monson" data-source="post: 31114409" data-attributes="member: 30005">Disaster Management Act says all, but govt. has not actedPresident empowered under the Act to declare a disaster situationDisaster committee appointed only on Nov 27, after the red alertEssential services not declared even by November 28By Prageeth Sampath KarunatilakeThe government is under fire for its alleged failure to mitigate and manage the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, despite prior warnings from relevant agencies. By November 25, the Department of Meteorology and the Irrigation Department had given prior notice in this regard.Still, the government has allegedly failed in taking pre-emptive action. The Department of Meteorology is under the Ministry of Defence, whereas the Disaster Management Centre falls under the purview of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.The Disaster Management Centre is duty-bound to work out a national disaster management plan in terms of the Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005. Disaster forecasting, coordination among the relevant agencies and regular communication between them and international agencies should feature in such a plan. The Act envisages how the government should act regarding possible disasters between 2023 and 2030. The Act has outlined how the government mechanism from the centre right down to Grama Niladhari division levels should be activated in the event of a disaster. It also says how people should be looked after with food and shelter. Despite all that, the disaster management committee had not met till November 23.The National Executive Council related to disaster management should meet four times a year. Yet, it has not met even once this year. A workshop regarding disaster management was conducted on June 16, 2025, at a leading hotel in Colombo. The Defence Secretary made the keynote address. But it is alleged that the government has no plan of action to be taken in the event of a disaster.The Meteorology Department and the Irrigation Department had issued a red notice on November 25. Yet, the government appointed the disaster committee on November 27. The government declared a holiday for public servants on November 28. The Director General, Disaster Management was appointed the following day only. By November 28, the government had failed to declare essential services.Had the government acted according to the law, the loss of human lives could have been averted. The President is empowered under the Act to declare a disaster situation. If he fails in this regard, it amounts to a violation of the Constitution as ruled by the Supreme Court.Our attempts to reach the media division of the DMC for comments failed.- <a href="https://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/Govt-under-fire-for-failure-to-mitigate-disaster-damage-despite-prior-warnings/155-327129" target="_blank">https://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/Govt-under-fire-for-failure-to-mitigate-disaster-damage-despite-prior-warnings/155-327129</a></blockquote>

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