2026-02-06 / Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations under Public Security Ordinance 2026-02-06
Deputy Minister Mulaffer defended the government's extension of emergency powers following Cyclone "Ditva," arguing the measure is solely aimed at expediting disaster relief and reconstruction, with teams deployed across multiple districts. He rejected Opposition criticism by citing historical precedents of emergency misuse under previous governments, including during the JR Jayewardene era and the 2017 Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse under the Yahapalana Government. He also responded to questions raised about the Mannar–Puttalam road, asserting that Opposition members who held Cabinet portfolios for approximately 25 years failed to address the issue themselves, and noted that Minister Bimal Rathnayake had already addressed the matter under Standing Order 27(2) the previous day.
Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.
If you listened to the previous speech, you would think only they are pure and everyone else is not. Why is there such fear about emergency? It is understandable that the Opposition speaks with fear about it — because history shows how those who are now in Opposition abused emergency to cling to power: in the JRJ era, in 1988–89, in July 1983 — media suppression, public repression. Our Government has not and will not use emergency that way.
We all accept the “Ditva” cyclone devastated the country and created a disaster situation. This is the first time we are extending emergency — to quickly create the conditions to rebuild for those affected. Everyone knows how we have used the emergency: deploying teams from Galle to Kandy, from Kalutara to Nuwara Eliya, from Hambantota to other districts via local authorities, to speedily restore normalcy. The Opposition cannot point fingers at us for misuse like past regimes.
Recall, in 2017 during the Yahapalana Government, when the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapsed, they declared a nationwide emergency — not for a countrywide cyclone like this. So, consider who has the moral standing to lecture today.
An Opposition Member said we now top the world in environmental pollution. Search your conscience: when you were in power, what decisions did you take that harmed the environment? Not only the environment — for years power was abused, with corruption rampant. In the year since we assumed office, we have begun to clean this up. Today’s emergency is for one purpose: to rebuild the lives of those affected by the disaster.
I must also respond to what was raised yesterday about opening the Mannar–Puttalam road. One Member shouted here asking if we have a political conscience. But when he himself held powerful Cabinet portfolios over nearly 25 years, why did he not open and upgrade that road? Everyone knows the dealings done with Basil Rajapaksa at that time. Social media is full of it. In the related court case, the first respondent’s counsel stated they did not object to the decision of the learned primary authority. Yesterday morning, Minister Hon. Bimal Rathnayake answered Hon. Kader Masthan’s question under Standing Order 27(2) and clearly explained the Government’s position and the people’s issues regarding that road, and even Hon. Masthan thanked the Government. Some, politically orphaned today, are trying to continue the same old politics around this 20-year issue.