President, PM pacify people’s pain

• Sirisena and Wickremesinghe express condolences to victims and praises relief workers 
• Promises the utmost resources and support to help displaced, mitigate effects of more rain and rebuild 
• Insists corruption of officials at provincial level will be minimised in aid distribution 
• Says international aid coming, wants all politicians irrespective of party to help people 
• PM promises Army will be deployed to protect property  

Addressing a nation beset by catastrophic landslides and floods President Maithripala Srisena yesterday made a special appeal to the private sector to help relief operations countrywide while both he and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed condolences to thousands of families that have been displaced and lost loved ones. 

Taking the direct route the President also addressed many complaints people have expressed, focusing on the feeling of neglect expressed by many who had called the special hotline set up at the Presidential Secretariat. Acknowledging the dissatisfaction and anger of people who are awaiting relief after losing their homes the President insisted all Government officials and troops are working around the clock and the full power of the State has been set in motion to help victims. 

He also saluted all the army, navy, and air force personnel as well as volunteers, Government and Non-government officials organising and funneling relief around the country. Given the high number of people affected Sirisena called for the understanding of the public as the disaster management structure set up after the 2004 Tsunami was struggling to cope with the deluge of victims.   

“We cannot stop the accusations and anger that will be directed at us in a situation like this but I promise the people that the Government is doing and will do everything it possibly can to help the victims of this terrible natural disaster,” he said during the televised statement. 

As a first step in helping the displaced the President has instructed all Provincial Secretariats to set up a central collection point where donations can be dropped off to be distributed by officials. Volunteers can also directly donate goods to victims, the president said. 

“We will initiate all steps to ensure that donations will not fall prey to corrupt practices and will be given to those in need. I take this opportunity to make a special request for all politicians to put aside party differences and move among the people and help them as much as possible so that they feel they are not alone,” he said. 

The Government will work to provide the maximum possible relief as the first step and it will take priority over all other State matters, the president promised, adding that additional steps would have to be taken to mitigate more victims if rains continue. The third step would be the long term reconstruction of infrastructure including houses as well as restoration of healthcare and education facilities to almost all the 25 districts of the country. The diplomatic community was debriefed by Foreign Minister Mangala Samraweera and others on Thursday and Sirisena noted several countries have already come forward to help Sri Lanka and expressed expectations that many more would respond positively to the emergency unfolding in Sri Lanka.  

Meanwhile issuing his own special statement Prime Minister Wickremesinghe pledged to deploy the army to protect properties of people affected by floods and landslides. He also reiterated that the Government would remain dedicated to all relief operations to help nearly 400,000 people affected by severe floods. Following postmortems the funerals from the people recovered from the Aranayake landslide will be carried out today. 

“Sri Lanka has experienced a tragic loss but together with the people the Government will do its utmost to assist those affected and help them rebuild their lives,” the Prime Minister said.