November 26, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake underscored the necessity of practical, grassroots-level approaches to disaster management, emphasizing that institutional frameworks alone are inadequate for addressing the country’s vulnerabilities. His remarks came during the swearing-in ceremony of Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara today (25), as per a statement by the President’s Media Division (PMD).
Highlighting the role of local government institutions, the President called for their empowerment to both prevent disasters in high-risk areas and develop innovative, localized solutions. He reiterated that while Sri Lanka’s disaster management laws were drafted after thorough study, their effective implementation lies in the hands of government officials.
“I pledge my full support to officials who execute their responsibilities with integrity. At the same time, I urge them to suggest enhancements to the legal framework where necessary,” President Dissanayake said.
He further noted the substantial financial burden disaster management imposes on the government but pointed out that strict enforcement of existing laws could significantly mitigate these costs.
