“President Anura failed in controlling the disaster,” says Kabir Hashim

06-Dec-2025

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“The Disaster Management Council is the body with the highest authority over disaster response. But even after warnings were issued, the President failed to convene the council. This shows a lack of political leadership,” said opposition MP Kabir Hashim.

He said this during the Budget debate on Dec 5.

He added:

“In the current situation, the budget report for next year is irrelevant. A supplementary estimate must be presented immediately for rebuilding the lives of affected people. As the opposition, we are ready to fully support it.

We boycotted Parliament last week because the government refused to allow discussion of people’s suffering during a massive disaster. It is our duty to point out the government’s wrong actions. We are fulfilling that responsibility, and we are ready to cooperate in national recovery.

There were early warnings. Officials had limited authority to act, and they were afraid to take responsibility due to lack of political leadership.

In 2005, we passed the Disaster Management Act. Under it, a national council exists. Ranil Wickremesinghe approved the 2023–2030 National Disaster Management Plan. That plan was discussed in a meeting chaired by the President this August. The President is the council’s chair.

Even with early warnings on November 17–18, why did the President not convene the council? If all parties had met, the damage could have been reduced. An emergency could have been declared. But none of this happened.”