Criminal Case Against Government Planned; SJB

03-Dec-2025

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Legal action was taken against the Rajapaksas for bankrupting the country. Similarly, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) intends to file a criminal case against the current government regarding the present disaster. 

This disaster is as grave as the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, said SJB MP S. M. Marikkar at a press briefing held on Dec 1 at the SJB office in Colombo.

He added:

Just as legal action was filed against the Rajapaksas for driving the country into bankruptcy, we expect to file a criminal case against the present government. 

The President is nothing more than a puppet who listens to the Colombo business community. When Parliament convened, we requested adequate time to discuss the disaster, but the government deliberately denied the opposition that opportunity.

For several days, they have failed to implement any effective plan to save the country from this crisis. The first warning about this situation was issued on November 12. Large reservoirs generally serve three functions: generating electricity, supplying water for agriculture, and controlling floods. According to information we received, engineers had advised releasing water gradually.

Ignoring this advice, the authorities once again displayed arrogance and incompetence by opening all spill gates at once, causing this massive disaster. Particularly around the Kelani River, widening the river mouth should have been done, yet no such action was taken. Instead, they have thrown the entire country into confusion under the guise of administrative reform.

We explained necessary precautionary measures at discussions chaired by the President, Prime Minister, and coordination committees. But the government did not listen. Even providing boats to those trapped by floods, and deploying adequate numbers of army and navy personnel, has been slow. In Parliament, our only hope was that they would wake up. This destruction is as inhumane as the Easter Sunday attack.

Therefore, just as legal action was filed against the Rajapaksas for bankrupting the country, we are prepared to file a criminal case against the present government. Every life lost is the government’s responsibility. Despite receiving prior warnings, they failed to take preventive measures, and for that we are ready to take legal action, he said.