Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Neglected PM directive worsened Colombo flooding, says URF leader
Patali Champika Ranawaka has blamed inadequate implementation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya's canal-cleaning orders for exacerbating Friday's severe flooding in Colombo. The United Republican Front leader said the disaster could have been prevented had municipal authorities acted promptly.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka has attributed the severity of Friday's flooding in Colombo to the failure of municipal and government officials to implement Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya's directive to clean canals and drainage systems across the city.
The URF politician contended that had the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and other relevant authorities heeded the Prime Minister's instructions, the devastating floods could have been prevented altogether. He emphasized that timely maintenance of drainage infrastructure would have significantly mitigated the impact of the rainfall that struck the capital.
The comments come as residents across Colombo continue to assess damage from Friday's flooding, which inundated numerous residential and commercial areas. The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of the city's drainage management and the responsiveness of municipal authorities to government directives.
The Prime Minister's directive to clear canals and drainage systems had aimed to prepare Colombo's infrastructure ahead of anticipated heavy rains. Officials are now facing questions about implementation delays and the coordination between different government agencies responsible for urban flood prevention.