The Sri Lanka Grama Niladhari Union has leveled a severe allegation against ruling party politicians, accusing them of forcibly interfering in the process of distributing relief to victims of the recent severe disaster and pressuring state officials.
The accusation highlights a worrying trend where, even as the nation faces a catastrophe, political forces within the ruling party are allegedly attempting to arbitrarily exploit essential relief meant for the innocent public to gain political advantage.
Sumith Kodikara, Convenor of the Grama Niladhari Union, emphasized at a media briefing in Kandy that there is no legal circular or directive compelling officials to obtain approval from ‘Community Development Committees’ for distributing disaster relief. He pointed out that official government circulars on disaster relief (e.g., Ministry of Finance Budget Circular No. 08/2025) clearly mandate that relief work must be channeled through Grama Niladharis and the Divisional/District Disaster Management Committees. The forceful intrusion of politicians into this legally defined process is deemed a dangerous situation.
‘Political Committees’ Operating Outside the Law
Mr. Kodikara noted that historically, no political committees were involved in recommending relief during past disasters. However, he stated that ruling party politicians are now severely pressuring state officials.
“In some places, they are distributing various forms. A certain female councilor in a Divisional Secretariat area in the Kandy District has given forms to everyone in her village for a Rs. 25,000 allowance. You can’t distribute it like that. There is no proper standard in that distribution. The President said the Rs. 25,000 is for a clearing-up site, it must be a place affected by the disaster. You can’t give it to everyone in the village or to your political associates,” he asserted.
These incidents, according to the Union, clearly demonstrate an attempt by politicians to misuse state funds to strengthen their political associates and vote base instead of properly assessing the genuine needs of disaster victims.
The Grama Niladhari Union further stressed that the immediate power-grabbing and pressuring of officials by Provincial Councilors, Municipal Councilors, and various ward leaders must cease. They warned that discouraging officials through political interference when they attempt to act according to the law will paralyze the entire relief mechanism.
The Union strongly emphasized to the ruling party that disaster relief is not a tool for political gain and made an urgent appeal to the President to immediately halt these political pressures and ensure an environment where relief distribution can be carried out transparently and legally.
