Cyclone Ditwah and its aftermath 

Sri Lanka is experiencing one of its worst natural disasters in recent times. Cyclonic conditions over the country have wreaked havoc across the island, with the death toll surpassing 50 by Friday afternoon, many others reported missing, and thousands left homeless and destitute. Warnings of the cyclone were issued at least three days before its devastating effects began to be felt, and while the Government had advised people living in hilly areas and along riverbanks to be cautious, there was no clear indication of how serious the situation would become.

While the Government took steps to declare a holiday for State-sector employees and postpone the Advanced Level examination, questions will continue to be asked in the days and weeks ahead about the level of preparedness of the Government and the allied State institutions. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held several meetings and briefed the State sector responsible for disaster relief on how they should respond to the situation, while promising compensation for those affected, but monetary relief is not the immediate concern for many.

While people have been left homeless and been forced into shelters there seems little preparedness to provide them with their immediate needs such as food, sanitary facilities etc. The situation is dire that the usual army of volunteer who help out in such situations too have been overwhelmed.

The members of the armed forces, as always, have been the saviours of the public. They moved in quickly and have been at the forefront, rescuing people trapped by rising waters or in landslide-prone areas. The Sri Lanka Air Force has reached several people trapped by the rising waters, while the Sri Lanka Army and Navy too have stepped up. This comes at a time when there are calls to downgrade the armed forces and reduce their numbers. It is important to note that rescue operations mean putting their lives at risk, as in a war situation.

In addition to them, the relevant District Secretaries, Irrigation Department officials, Electricity Board staff, the Police and many others have been working around the clock to ensure that they do their part to keep people safe and minimise inconvenience. Since the NPP took power, there has been a growing sense among those in the state sector that they should stick strictly to guidelines even when an emergency situation develops, thus delaying their work. In such situations, officials cannot wait for directives from the President or politicians to act. However, the fear that taking decisions even in emergencies could later result in them being hounded over some minor discrepancy has made those in the state sector so cautious that they are becoming inept.

This is the worst natural disaster the country has faced in many years and presents a huge challenge for the Government. While politicians cannot be blamed for the wrath of nature, how it handles the aftermath of this situation will be crucial. Thousands of acres of paddy land have been destroyed, and farmers who were already in a poor situation will be left even more destitute. People who have lost homes and belongings will need assistance to start all over again. For those who have lost their loved ones, it will be a lifetime of suffering.

While no one can fully control such events, there will be questions about the level of preparedness to face such situations. The Government has been in power for over a year now, so blaming past governments will not win it any support. The Government will instead have to acknowledge where there have been shortcomings and then take preventive measures so that, the next time around, the country is better prepared to deal with such situations.

Till then, all citizens must help out in any way they can. It is a time to unite and help each other by putting aside political and other differences.