Sajith Premadasa urges Sri Lanka to prepare for extreme weather

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged Sri Lanka to prepare for worst-case weather scenarios due to shifting climate patterns. Speaking at a Parliamentary Caucus on Climate meeting, Premadasa emphasized that forecast uncertainty should not hinder authorities from preparing for severe outcomes such as droughts, heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides.

He recommended closely monitoring phenomena including El Niño, La Niña, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the Indian Ocean Dipole. These factors could significantly impact water supplies, irrigation, power generation, agriculture, and food security. Premadasa also highlighted the need to protect coastal communities, fishing sectors, and biodiversity.

To improve resilience, Premadasa proposed strengthening or replacing the current disaster management system with a more integrated mechanism focused on preparedness. He suggested studying the disaster management model used in Odisha, India. This call for action comes as climate agencies monitor a strengthening El Niño, which regional monitoring suggests could persist into early 2027.