Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa stated that Sri Lanka must have prior preparedness to face El Niño and La Niña conditions.
He noted that these conditions can result in extreme weather patterns, ranging from severe droughts to heavy rainfall within a short period, demonstrating how two weather extremes can occur successively.
Premadasa emphasized that regardless of whether such conditions occur, the country must be adequately prepared and that the existing disaster management structure needs to be transformed.
He further stated that Sri Lanka should learn from the experience of Odisha State in India, moving beyond a disaster response mechanism that merely reacts after disasters occur.
According to Premadasa, Sri Lanka requires a new disaster management framework, along with new programmes and institutions, with the ultimate objective of creating a nation capable of withstanding frequently recurring disasters.
