Sri Lanka must brace for extreme weather, warns opposition leader

Sajith Premadasa, leader of the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya party, has called on authorities to develop robust contingency plans for worst-case weather scenarios amid growing climate instability affecting the region.

The opposition politician emphasized that Sri Lanka's vulnerability to extreme weather events—including severe monsoons, flooding, and drought—requires urgent policy intervention and infrastructure upgrades. He warned that delayed action could exacerbate the humanitarian and economic consequences of climate-related disasters.

Premadasa's remarks underscore growing concerns among policymakers about the island's readiness to handle meteorological extremes. Climate scientists have projected that South Asian nations, including Sri Lanka, will face increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather patterns in coming decades.

The statement comes amid ongoing debates in parliament over disaster management funding and climate adaptation strategies. Government agencies have been tasked with reviewing early warning systems and evacuation protocols to better protect vulnerable communities from weather-related hazards.

Experts have highlighted the need for integrated approaches combining infrastructure resilience, community preparedness programs, and long-term environmental management to address Sri Lanka's climate vulnerabilities.