Disaster Management Officers Stage Protest Outside Ministry, Claiming the Country's Disaster Management System Has Been Neglected

Disaster management officers staged a protest outside the Ministry of Disaster Management on November 5, 2026, accusing the government of failing to strengthen the country's disaster management system and address longstanding issues affecting relief operations.

The protest was organised by the All Ceylon Disaster Relief Services Officers' Trade Union. Addressing the demonstrators, its chairman, Upul Kumara, described the country's disaster management service as being on the verge of collapse, alleging that successive governments had failed to take meaningful steps to improve its effectiveness.

Kumara criticised the implementation of the Disaster Management Act of 2005, claiming that the existing framework had contributed to delays in disaster response and relief distribution. He also accused the current administration of continuing to follow outdated approaches despite repeated calls for reform.

Referring to the Ditwah disaster, he said the union had repeatedly warned the government that the disaster management and relief distribution processes were inadequate. He said proposals had been submitted to strengthen relief operations, improve efficiency and ensure that affected communities received assistance without unnecessary delays.

The union had also proposed filling vacant positions in Divisional Secretariats and national disaster management centres to improve the delivery of emergency assistance. Kumara said the organisation had launched major trade union action in February to press for these demands.

He further criticised the government's public announcements about housing assistance, alleging that official claims of progress did not reflect the actual situation on the ground. According to him, only around one per cent of the promised relief had been delivered, with approximately 9,000 out of more than 30,000 affected beneficiaries receiving at least one instalment of assistance.

Key Demands Raised by the Union

The union presented several demands to the government, including:

1. Rs. 1,250 allowance: Payment of the promised Rs. 1,250 allowance to committee members who actively contributed to providing disaster relief supplies.

2. Withdrawal of the 2023 Cabinet decision: Reversal of a Cabinet paper introduced under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2023, which the union says has adversely affected the service.

3. Permanent recognition and salary revision: Formal recognition of Development Officers assigned community empowerment responsibilities as Disaster Management Service Officers, with their positions made permanent and their salary scale upgraded to MM5.

Union Chairman Criticises President

Kumara also launched a strong verbal criticism of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging him to return to the principles and commitments he upheld before becoming President.

He accused the administration of moving away from its promises to the public and government employees, arguing that the President should not allow the interests of influential business groups and political circles to take priority over the needs of ordinary citizens.

He called on the President to step away from what he described as the influence of powerful groups and directly address the problems faced by people on the ground.

The union chairman stressed that the government must take immediate action to strengthen disaster management services, resolve administrative shortcomings and ensure that disaster-affected communities receive timely assistance.