A lawyer from Kandy has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court, claiming that the failure of the National People’s Power (NPP/JVP) government to prevent or minimise the severe destruction caused by Cyclone “Ditwah” has violated his basic human rights.
The petition, submitted by Attorney-at-Law Keerthi Bandara Kiridena, names Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, the entire Cabinet of Ministers, and the National Disaster Management Committee as respondents. The petition highlights the public outrage that a government which came to power promising a “system change” has been so utterly ineffective in protecting the lives and property of its citizens.
The petitioner states that his law office, situated next to the Kandy courthouse complex, was destroyed by the floods. He points out that the destruction of valuable computer data and professional files has caused severe damage to his career. Specifically, the petition alleges that the disaster could have been prevented if authorities had taken action to properly warn residents in Gampola, Galaha, Peradeniya, and Kandy areas before releasing water from the Kotmale Reservoir. The petition argues that this was not merely a natural disaster, but a case of “murderous” negligence caused by the government’s inefficiency and dereliction of duty.
The lack of proper preparedness for disaster management, despite timely warnings from the Department of Meteorology over the past period, clearly demonstrates the inexperience of the NPP regime. As previously reported, the tragedy has resulted in the deaths or disappearance of nearly 800 people across the country, with over 1.4 million people displaced. The petition condemns the conduct of the President and government ministers who continued to engage in political campaigning instead of prioritising the rescue of the people, calling it unacceptable in a civilised society. This arbitrary and shortsighted policy has also inflicted enormous damage on the national economy, with prominent economists suggesting that the negligence has pushed the country further into an abyss.
The petition calls on the Supreme Court to rule that the fundamental rights of citizens have been violated due to the negligence of the government and its officials. Facing such a serious judicial challenge just one year and three months into their term, confirms that the NPP government’s “people-friendly” mask is no longer valid. The right of a government, sustained by taxpayer money, to abandon its people in a time of danger is now being questioned before the Supreme Court.
