2026-02-06 / Debate: Extension of Emergency Regulations under Public Security Ordinance 2026-02-06
Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna defended the government's extension of emergency powers in response to a major 2025 disaster, arguing it is necessary to expedite restoration of housing, schools, and health services, with over 20,000 houses requiring Rs. 500,000 grants for rebuilding. He rejected Opposition claims that compensation had not been paid, stating disbursements to eligible families have already begun, and challenged critics to identify any civil rights violations under the emergency. The speaker also announced that decentralised funds would be distributed equally among all 225 MPs across 25 Ministries, and affirmed that no 2026 Budget development projects would be suspended due to the disaster, citing additional measures including increased farmers' grants and cultivation support raised to Rs. 150,000 per hectare.
Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.
Since morning the Opposition has brought words from elsewhere and hurled mud as usual. The disaster that befell us in 2025 is one of the worst in our history, with heavy economic losses, many lives lost, houses buried by earth, roads destroyed beyond easy repair, bridges and schools damaged, and religious places affected. Two months after the disaster, many areas still cannot be fully restored; many families still live in rented places.
That is why the Government — led by the Hon. President — decided to provide Rs. 500,000 for fully damaged houses and fair compensation for partially damaged ones, and to build houses for the affected. The Opposition still says compensation has not been paid — but the programme to pay eligible families has already begun.
Why extend emergency? Because in the coming period we must intervene swiftly and repeatedly to restore the right to live, to rapidly rebuild schools so children can return, and to restore health services where they broke down. We are doing this in the coming months. The majority of the country supports extending emergency to speed the return to normalcy. Tell us where any civil rights were violated under the recent emergency. People have held protests; we did not suppress that; we have not abused the law.
We extend the emergency solely to provide necessary facilities for the affected and to restore the country. Over 20,000 houses require Rs. 500,000 grants for rebuilding. Much more remains to be done.
Also, Hon. Presiding Member, as you observed earlier, there must be facilities to provide decentralized funds for temples and other needed places. We have 25 Ministries with allocations for such purposes. Our production economy was long broken; decentralized funds were abused in the past. We have decided to provide decentralized funds to all 225 MPs equally.
We will not roll back any development project proposed in the 2026 Budget because of this disaster. We are strengthening the economy while providing unprecedented compensation: we increased farmers’ grants, raised cultivation support to Rs. 150,000 per hectare, and approved compensation for wildlife damage. We act with our heads held high.
Some on the Opposition said “keep your spine straight.” The President, Cabinet, MPs and local authorities are precisely doing that — taking the necessary decisions without hesitation.
Thank you.