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Several groups to sue Government for failing to issue advance warnings on cyclone Ditwah
By Indika Sri Aravinda
Colombo, Dec. 9 (Daily Mirror) - Several political parties, civil groups, environmental organizations and public movements are preparing to take legal action against the government, accusing authorities of failing to issue timely warnings about the risks posed by Cyclone Ditwah and neglecting essential safety measures.
These groups claim that many responsible state institutions acted irresponsibly by not providing proper alerts to the public despite clear indications of the cyclone’s potential impact. They argue that the government’s failure directly contributed to the extensive loss of life, property damage and displacement experienced across multiple districts.
Organizers say the cases will be filed as writ petitions, drawing on several high-profile past court rulings, including:
The Supreme Court verdict finding former President Maithripala Sirisena and senior officials responsible for serious lapses leading to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
The Supreme Court decision holding former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and others accountable for mismanagement that triggered the recent economic crisis.
The parties say these precedents support their claim that the state has a constitutional duty to protect citizens and prevent avoidable disasters.
Representatives of various political parties, civil organizations and mass movements met in Colombo on December 5 and agreed on key steps for the upcoming legal proceedings.
Attorney-at-Law Dinesh Vidana Pathirana, Convener of the Free Lawyers Organization, said they expect to file their case under the Public Trust Doctrine. He said the government must be held responsible for “creating chaos in the country” by failing to issue proper warnings from November 12 until the cyclone made landfall.
Data collection is currently underway, and discussions are being held with senior legal experts. Several political leaders, business figures and affected families are expected to testify.
Vidana Pathirana added that consultations are ongoing with lawyers connected to the United Nations, and if domestic remedies fail, they plan to seek assistance from the UN Human Rights Commission.
Attorney-at-Law Ravindra Dabare, Chairman of the Environmental Justice Center, said they will file a writ petition against the government for failing to evacuate residents in high-risk zones vulnerable to landslides and rockfalls.
He said there are clear legal provisions to evacuate people in danger zones, but government agencies “neglected their responsibilities by failing to act in time.”
Meanwhile, Priyantha Herath, Convener of the National Organization of Api Sri Lanka, said a fundamental rights petition will be filed against the Department of Meteorology for not properly issuing risk alerts related to Cyclone Ditwa.
He said the lack of timely communication led to the “massive loss of life, property and animals,” and demanded that both the government and affiliated institutions be held accountable.
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