Free Lawyers’ Association to file Supreme Court petition over lack of cyclone “Ditwah” warnings

29 December 2025 10:41 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 9 Bookmark

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By Indika Sri Aravinda

Colombo, Dec. 29 (Daily Mirror) - The Free Lawyers’ Association, representing the Joint Opposition, has announced plans to file a petition before the Supreme Court by January 15, challenging the government’s failure to inform the public in advance about the dangers of cyclone “Ditwah” and to take proper safety measures.

Attorney-at-Law Dinesh Vidanapathirana, convener of the association, said that several government institutions and officials acted irresponsibly by failing to issue timely warnings about the cyclone, resulting in significant loss of life and property. He added that the petition will argue that the fundamental rights of the public were violated.

The association plans to present multiple pieces of evidence in court, including past controversial incidents, to support its case. Attorney Vidanapathirana also noted that the court may consider precedents such as the conviction of former President Maithripala Sirisena, the former Defence Secretary, and others in the 2019 Easter bombings, as well as Supreme Court rulings on failures during the short-sighted governance of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that contributed to the country’s economic crisis.

The petition is expected to name a relative of a cyclone victim, a religious leader, and a businessman as witnesses. Respondents will include the Secretary to the President, Directors General of the Meteorology and Irrigation Departments, and the Secretaries of the ministries overseeing these institutions.

Attorney Vidanapathirana confirmed that the petition is ready and will be filed before the Supreme Court prior to January 15.

Comments - 9

Vic Monday, 29 December 2025 11:18 AM

These guys in black coats will try to get money from anybody if they cannot take from the people the Will try to take from the government.

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Lalantha Amerasinghe Monday, 29 December 2025 01:18 PM

Good move they will not take any money they will appear free of charge as they are members of a free lawyers association

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Shahul Hamza Monday, 29 December 2025 12:29 PM

Good. Government must be exposed and brought down on its knees !!

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Lion Monday, 29 December 2025 12:58 PM

Yes ,the people in Dubai too wanted to initiate a court case against the king ,for not warning about the recently started flood in that country

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Dr. Thissa Fernando Monday, 29 December 2025 01:52 PM

I agree

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BRASL Monday, 29 December 2025 03:16 PM

Is this union really free Lawyers knows nothing but act like they are the best to run a country Past lawyers in parliament has really ruined the country

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lion Monday, 29 December 2025 05:47 PM

Case may not even taken up for hearing by the judiciary.

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Realistica Adams Monday, 29 December 2025 07:37 PM

Another prank by some who have nothing much to do.

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U. Senaratne Monday, 29 December 2025 09:15 PM

The Free Lawyers’ Association and the Joint Opposition would like to believe that landslide damages were simply a matter of missed cyclone warnings? As if a weather bulletin could stop mountains from turning into sodden sponges. Under the cyclone`s deluge, the soil hit saturation point—no absorption, just runoff. So, they are hanging their hopes on the early opening of dam sluice gates? That’s less a strategy than a gambler’s bluff. To stake the opposition’s future on such a shallow bet is to build a political house with mud—one small rain of science and it all slides away as well.

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