Courtesy Hiru News

Former President and United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe stated today (3) that the country’s Constitution stands violated and accused the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) of running the country from their Pelawatta office.

Speaking at a meeting with party leaders and representatives, he claimed that the President’s and Prime Minister’s offices are not operational centres.

He demanded that all party leaders must unite to ensure the power operating from the Pelawatta office transfers back to Parliament.

Wickremesinghe pointed out that the main reason the current disaster escalated is the Government’s failure to abide by the Constitution and disaster protocols.

Lack of Preparedness and Political Interference:

· Plan Non-Implementation: While workshops and seminars were held in 2025 to educate state institutions on the 2023-2030 National Disaster Management Plan, the provisions of the Disaster Management Act were not implemented on Thursday, 27 November.

· Holiday Declared: Declaring Friday, 28 November, a holiday rendered all departments, divisions, and officers assigned tasks under the disaster plan inactive.

· Aid Politicisation: Aid distribution stood politicised, circumventing Parliament, the Cabinet, and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), while a parallel disaster relief fund was established.

· Lack of Strategy: No strategy exists to confront the disaster, nor are there plans for rehabilitation and restoration.

Given the government’s lack of experience, Wickremesinghe called for the immediate appointment of two new Parliamentary bodies:

· Oversight Committee: Parliament needs to appoint an Oversight Committee on Disaster Management and Reconstruction, chaired by an experienced MP (such as Kabir Hashim). It should include equal numbers of experienced MPs from the government and opposition, and appoint an economic unit to assess the short- and long-term economic consequences of the disaster.

· Select Committee (PSC): A Parliamentary Select Committee must be immediately appointed, chaired by an opposition MP with equal members from government and opposition, to report on the lapses in disaster management pertaining to 28 November. This committee must submit its final report within six months.

Wickremesinghe gave a grim economic forecast, stating the damage and reconstruction costs will exceed 15% of GDP in the medium term. He also noted that the IMF agreement primary surplus target stands reduced from 2.3% to 2%.

· Foreign Aid: Assistance from the US, UK, and the EU for rebuilding efforts may not materialise, with the US already having declined to provide aid for reconstruction.

·         Long-Term Loans: Sri Lanka, along with Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, are four countries affected by this weather pattern. Discussions for long-term loans at concessional rates must begin with development banks such as ADB, AIIB, JBIC, and KOICA. India’s assistance should be sought for railway reconstruction.

The former President concluded by reiterating his core political charge:

“The Constitution is violated today. This is the main reason this catastrophe happened. The JVP Political Bureau in Pelawatta is exercising state power today. There are no operational centres in the Presidential and Prime Ministerial offices. The JVP headquarters in Pelawatta became the office, and the President went to the Ministry of Defence. Party leaders must be summoned and decide to ensure that power transfers back to Parliament from Pelawatta.”