SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday accused the Government of serious failures in handling the Cyclone Ditwah crisis. Speaking in Parliament, he claimed the administration was shifting blame onto public officials instead of taking responsibility and called for a transparent investigation into the lapses.
Rajapaksa urged the formation of a proper Parliamentary Select Committee to honestly examine what went wrong, stressing the need to study how former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government had prepared for similar extreme-weather warnings. He questioned the Government’s budget credibility, noting that last year only 20–30% of proposals were implemented, and warned that current fiscal limitations could hinder disaster response.
He highlighted the urgent need for relief for flood- and landslide-affected communities and support for businesses burdened by high taxes. Rajapaksa criticised the Government’s disaster-management system for collapsing during the crisis, with ministries issuing contradictory messages and no unified plan. He also noted the administration’s lack of preparedness to coordinate international assistance.
Reiterating that the Government must take responsibility, he urged the Speaker to appoint a Select Committee for a proper review and called for briefing the IMF on the situation, warning that without changes to the tax system, affected people would struggle to rebuild. He emphasised that disaster messaging and coordination remain inadequate, leaving communities and aid organisations without proper guidance.
