The Hon. (Mrs.) Deepthi Wasalage

## Summary Hon. (Mrs.) Deepthi Wasalage spoke in support of extending the national emergency declared on 28 November 2025, contextualising it within the severe flooding and landslide disaster that struck the Matale District, which caused 29 deaths, disrupted communications across 14 zones, affected 16 of 25 RDA roads, and knocked out power District-wide. She detailed the coordinated relief response by the four Matale MPs, party organisers, and members from other districts, emphasising that aid was delivered to hard-hit Tamil communities without communal distinction. She outlined outstanding recovery needs, including restoration of the Alukalduwa–Ukuwela road, establishment of the Bambarakiriella water project, and relocation of the Navagamuwa Hindu National School. Rejecting Opposition criticism of the emergency extension, she argued the declaration had not been used against any democratic process and challenged critics to cite specific instances of misuse, while attributing the country's inherited economic difficulties to the previous administrations now represented on the Opposition benches.