Sri Lanka must immediately overhaul its national disaster preparedness strategies to shield its vulnerable population from the severe ecological and economic threats posed by the impending El Niño–La Niña climate transition, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said.
He made these remarks on Wednesday (26) during an event in the Matara–Hambantota region, where he attended the Akthapathra presentation ceremony for Venerable Sapugasyaye Dharmapala Thera following his appointment as Deputy Chief Sanghanayake of Talpe-Pattuwa.
Warning that unpredictable climate events could trigger severe droughts swiftly followed by intense torrential rainfall, the Opposition Leader urged the government to abandon reactive relief measures in favour of a modern, institutionalised framework.
Drawing attention to international crisis points including recent forest fires in France and Greece, he explained that the Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change, which he co-chairs with Prof. L. M. Abeywickrama, has been evaluating scientific predictions indicating an abnormally destructive climate cycle this year.
He added that the island has already endured five major national crises in recent history, ranging from the Easter Sunday terror attacks to global geopolitical fallout, and risks facing a sixth major crisis if environmental risks are ignored.
Pointing to India’s Odisha state as an exemplary model of proactive disaster risk reduction, Premadasa said that Sri Lanka has failed to build a modern management apparatus despite the tragic loss of forty thousand lives during the 2004 tsunami.
He also observed that economically vulnerable and bankrupt nations remain exceptionally susceptible to external manipulation, highlighting that unified action involving government bodies, non-state institutions, and civil society is crucial to withstand interference from international financial institutions and multinational corporations.
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