Government should immediately mediate to help people who saved themselves from the disasters

FRIDAY, 10 JUNE 2016

The government failed to mediate in providing relief or giving protection to the people affected by floods, earth slips and explosion at the ‘Salawa’ armoury. However, the government should immediately mediate to help people who saved themselves from the disasters says the Information secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath speaking at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (10th).

The JVP Member of the Western Provincial Council Lakshman Nipunarachchi also participated.

Mr. Vijitha Herath said, “The armoury at Salawa Army camp exploded on the 6th. As a result people living in the area were shaken. The Army camps as well as houses, hospitals, shops and other building around the camp were extensively damaged. The people, due to the danger to their lives fled to various places. The people escaped danger not due to announcements by the government but due to shock and terror of the explosion. People made a tremendous effort to save their lives. One life was lost. Many lives were saved as the explosion occurred in the evening.

The reason for the incident has not been revealed yet. However, as a result of the incident the people in the area have been subjected to extreme suffering as the armoury was planted in a congested area. With the incident the soldier s in eh camp as well as the residents in the area are confronted with several issues. As a result of sunning away due to fear many have been injured and several had to be hospitalized. Also, there are many who have been injured due to flying debris. Water, food and lodging necessary for people who have saved their lives to live have not been properly provided yet. Whatever authorities say the government has failed to provide essential commodities necessary for the people.

About 300 houses have been completely destroyed due to the explosion. There are also many houses that are partly damaged. The government has not been able to make a correct assessment of the destruction yet. The government instructs residents to go back to their houses. However, people don’t have their houses to go to. The people are also confronted with several issues due to the rainy weather prevailing in the area. Their daily income has broken down. Their vehicles have been damaged. Their shops and boutiques have been destroyed. They have no water to drink or other uses.

As such, an instant mediation is necessary to resolve these issues. When the floods disrupted normal lives of the people we emphasized to the government that it should have a quick mediation to confront special disaster situation. However, the government has failed again to get involved in the disaster situation immediately. An immediate involvement is necessary now regarding housing and food. At a time when the government should fulfill the needs of the people it partitioned eh Army camp by building a wall of zinc sheets around it. The residents were angered as the government neglected the needs of the people to partition the camp.

Also, there are students who were preparing for their scholarship and A/L examinations in the area. Their educational affairs have been completely halted. The government should look into such matter s and immediately mediate. The foremost matter is to establish a center to coordinate all institutions that have to mediate in the matter. At present it is carried out by the Divisional Secretariat. However, the distance from the site of the incident to the Divisional Secretariat is about 6 kilometers. The people cannot be expected to travel 6 kilometers to present their issues. Hence a coordinating office should be immediately established in the area to gather information, provide food and other necessities, protection and for the people to present their issues. The government has not yet explained to the people regarding the current situation. As a result the people are unable to mediate in any matter that is necessary to get their houses newly built or damaged ones repaired.

Despite the government has announced that all those who were affected due to the explosion would be given Rs.50, 000 each, no information has been given to the people when and how it would be given. As such, the people are clueless and distressed. This is why people ask why the government does not intervene in their disaster but allocate billions to bring down vehicles for ministers. The government that allocates Rs.1180 billion to buy vehicles for ministers when a no confidence motions is brought against the Minister of Finance has not fulfilled the needs of the those who were affected by recent floods. People in Aranayaka area where people suffered due to a landslide and people in Colombo and Gampaha districts that suffered from floods are still in camps for the displaced. The government, due to the explosion at Salawa Army camp, has forgotten the people who were affected due to floods. In both these incidents the government failed to provide immediate e relief to the affected.

The government should mediate and an immediate exercise should be launched to provide everything necessary for the people who saved their lives incredibly. The people invite President Maithripala Sirisena to come and have a look at their destroyed houses before he opens the President’s House for the public. All officials of the Ministry of Disaster Management who are spread throughout the island could be called. The personnel of the three forces could be deployed. People cannot build or repair their houses only by giving money. Hence, a special mediation of eh government is necessary to bring relief to these people.

The JVP Member for Western Provincial Council Lakshman Nipunarachchi speaking at the press conference said, “The residents of Kosgama spent a normal life. They had no preparation for any danger. However, they were confronted with a sudden disaster. The government should be thankful for the people for saving their lives without any aid from the government. The government would have to face a bigger crisis if the people did not act the way they protected themselves. Now there are several issues that prevent them from leading their normal lives. There is no combines programme to resolve issues. The Grama Sevaka does one thing and Samurthi Officers do another.  There is no assessment regarding the loss of property, damages to the houses and loss of valuables. People cannot find a house for rent with Rs.50,000 promised by the government. They will have to leave the area. They will have to go to Homagama or Avissawella to rent out a house.

When we visited the area we met the Commander of the Army. He too did not have a proper coordination. It was evident from his statements. The government displays its usual inefficiency. An area that extends more than two square kilometers has been affected due to the incident. The Minister of Disaster Management has said the water issue of 75% of the people was solved. Without knowing the number that has been affected how could the minister say that the water issue of 75% has been resolved?

Also, the mentality of the people in the area has been shattered. The divisional politician attempt to advice peopled without any knowledge of the disaster. Certain politicians are rejected, booed and chased away when they try to get involved in the issue without understanding the issues of the people.

The politicians should understand the mental state of these people who have faced a disaster situation. The people have been angered due to the neglect of the government.

We would like to make a special request. A special programme should be carried out on behalf of the children who were to sit the scholarship examination which is a competitive examination. The children have been subjected to an immense pressure due to the disaster that occurred just a few months before their examination. Also, a special programme should be carried out on behalf of the students who were preparing for the A/L examination.

The water issue in the area is very serious. Water is not available not only for drinking but also for other necessary purposes. Voluntary organizations have been restricted from getting involved in bringing relief. The people should be helped to build their houses. Raw material should be supplied and specially a programme should be carried out to provide security for the people and their property.