While the current National People’s Power (NPP) government’s widely publicised ‘Disaster Relief Packages’ remain trapped in bureaucratic files and promises, reports indicate that Harin Fernando, a prominent leader of the United National Party (UNP), has provided direct relief to flood-affected residents in the Badulla District, the area he long represented.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had announced in Parliament that grants and compensation amounting to millions of rupees would be given to disaster victims. However, the sluggish start to these official bureaucratic processes has made meeting the daily and immediate nutritional needs of the affected a grave challenge.
Recognising this gap, Mr. Harin Fernando, regardless of holding an official position, returned to his political roots. His action of directly distributing aid among the flood-stricken people of Badulla has been widely appreciated, including on social media.
This proactive intervention by Harin Fernando is particularly significant as the current government appears heavily focused on political rival hunting and selective justice. The NPP government seems to be deploying state machinery and human resources for narrow political activities, such as expediting cases against Ranil Wickremesinghe, while failing to fulfil fundamental duties like public welfare and disaster management.
