President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed officials to refrain from permitting new constructions in the Kelani river valley to regulate the river water levels. The President instructed officials to promptly halt illegal landfills in these areas and to relocate the Mulleriyawa and IDH hospitals to alternative locations.
President Wickremesinghe embarked on an observation tour of the Kolonnawa, Kelaniya and Ambatale areas to assess the welfare of those affected by floods and other disasters resulting from adverse weather. Following this tour, he participated in a discussion at the Kolonnawa Sedawatta Weheragoda Rajamaha Vihara, where he issued instructions.
During his visit, the President also inspected the Ambatale Galwana Purana Rajamaha Vihara, where displaced individuals are sheltered, as well as the Sedawatta Weheragoda Purana Rajamaha Vihara.
He visited the security centres of Kolonnawa Terence S. Silva College and Wellampitiya Community College to inquire about the well-being of the people and instructed officials to address their needs promptly and continuously.
The President instructed the Kolonnawa Divisional Secretary to initiate food distribution for flood-affected individuals in the Kolonnawa area.
He stressed the importance of prioritising the health and sanitation needs of these individuals and the importance of swiftly relocating individuals from flood-prone areas, with the use of aqueducts to divert the floodwaters.
Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, spoke on the necessity of implementing a program to safeguard the homes and property of individuals residing in shelters during the disaster. During a discussion at the Kolonnawa Divisional Secretary’s Office, he also highlighted the potential for implementing mobile patrols with the involvement of community police.
Ratnayaka also advised the Army to adhere to strict hygiene protocols while providing cooked food to people in the disaster-stricken areas. He instructed officers to ensure the provision of clean drinking water to the affected individuals to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases.
He also directed the establishment of a temporary relief centre by the Tri-Forces officers to provide essential relief to the people until the disaster ends.
He underscored the importance of initiating a program to control epidemic diseases such as dengue, rat fever (Leptospirosis) and diarrhoea that may arise after the floods recede.
He said that the President has instructed to rebuild all the houses that were completely damaged due to the disaster with Government assistance and the involvement of the Armed Forces.
Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Members of Parliament Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, Premnath C. Dolawatte, S.M. Marikkar, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayaka, Director General of Trade Unions to the President Saman Ratnapriya, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and Inspector General of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon were present.
