Deputy Minister says Meteorology Department didn’t warn Govt of cyclone

Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said the Meteorology Department never informed the government or any other authority that the country was likely to be hit by a cyclone.

“If such a warning was issued, we challenge them to show where it was communicated,” Jayasinghe said during a television interview.

He added that while the Meteorology Department had issued statements predicting rainfall exceeding 200 millimeters, such announcements are routine and not specific alerts about an impending cyclone.

Jayasinghe also said the government is prepared to face legal action if it is accused of failing to take appropriate measures to mitigate the disaster.

Clarifying the division of responsibility, he noted that decisions to open or close spill gates during heavy rains fall under the purview of the Department of Irrigation.

Any mistakes in that process would be the responsibility of the engineers rather than the government, he said.