July 22, Colombo (LNW): Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Presidential Staff and Senior Advisor to the President on National Security, highlighted the necessity for bold and decisive actions to manage floods and dengue outbreaks, similar to the measures taken to rescue the country from its economic crisis.
He assured that the benefits of these measures would become evident in the coming years.
Ratnayaka stressed the importance of citizens fulfilling their responsibilities to significantly reduce the spread of dengue.
He made these remarks at the launch of the flood response and anti-dengue campaign organised by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society’s Colombo branch, held recently at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo.
Ratnayaka elaborated, “During disasters, substantial funds are spent on relief efforts by the government, associations, and other countries. However, proactive flood mitigation measures can save more money than reactive flood responses. Similarly, controlling dengue costs far less than the healthcare expenses incurred during outbreaks. The loss of life and the impact on affected families are beyond monetary value.”
He emphasised the need for informed and necessary decisions, even if they are unpopular, drawing parallels to the economic crisis recovery efforts.
“Due to structural reforms, we have sustained businesses, industries, and investments. The current government has also implemented reforms to reduce fraud and corruption. These decisions were not popular, but they were necessary.”
Ratnayaka noted that during recent floods, the country’s mechanisms and public efforts were severely impacted. Issues such as improper construction, blocked drains, and unauthorised landfills have exacerbated flood conditions.
He called for immediate correction of these mistakes.
“Dengue has reached a critical situation. Proper citizen responsibility can prevent its spread. We need laws to control this situation for the country’s progress,” he added.
Ratnayaka emphasised that development must be sustainable to avoid flooding, urging the use of artificial intelligence and new technology to make informed decisions and reduce errors.
He called on the Disaster Management Centre and the Red Cross Society to lead this initiative.
Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Jagath Abeysinghe, Director General Dr. Mahesh Gunasekara, and officials from various government institutions, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Disaster Management Centre, were present at the event.
