July 16, Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court has scheduled for 30 October 2026 the hearing of a Fundamental Rights petition alleging that the government’s inadequate disaster preparedness ahead of Cyclone Ditwah infringed upon the fundamental rights of the public.
The case came before a bench comprising Justices Janak de Silva and Achala Wengappuli, which fixed the date to consider the petition.
Filed by a lawyer from Kandy, the application names the Attorney General, representing the President, as well as members of the Cabinet of Ministers and several other officials as respondents.
The petitioner argues that despite advance warnings issued by the Department of Meteorology regarding the potential threat posed by Cyclone Ditwah, the authorities failed to put in place effective precautionary measures or emergency response plans to safeguard communities and reduce the extent of the damage.
It is further claimed that the alleged inaction by the government amounted to a breach of the public’s fundamental rights, and the petitioner is seeking a declaration from the Supreme Court to that effect.
In addition to the constitutional relief sought, the petition requests the court to direct the relevant authorities to develop and implement a comprehensive national framework for disaster preparedness and risk mitigation, with the aim of strengthening the country’s response to future natural calamities and reducing their impact on lives and property.