Parliamentary Delegation Tour 2005

The Parliamentary Select Committee is investigating whether there was a lack of preparedness to meet an emergency of the nature of the tsunami that struck Sri Lanka on December 26, 2004. The Committee has the authority to recommend what steps should be taken to ensure that an early warning system be put in place and what other steps should be taken to minimize the damage caused by similar natural disasters.

To understand what is happening at the grass root level and to gather opinions of relevant authorities, the Select Committee undertook a three-day tour of the regions affected by the tsunami. An extensive tour of the entire southern and eastern coastal belt led to an exchange of information and experiences shared by those affected as well as those who are in authority.

Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Chairperson of the Select Committee, as well as committee members - John Amaratunge, Mahinda Wijeysekera and Mohamed Musthaffa - were part of the tour. Dr Kapila Perera, Chairman of NARA, R A D B Samaranayake, Director of the Coast Conservation Department (CCD), Prof Kapila Dahanayake, Head of the Department of Geology, Peradeniya University, L R K Perera, Head of the Geology Department, Peradeniya University, S H Kariyawasam, Expert from the Meteorology Department, H D Sisira, Director, Land Use and Policy Planning Institute, H N M Indrathilake, Expert from the NBRO, and W I S Fernando of the Geology Survey and Mines Bureau, came on the tour. The media as well as the Hansard reporters covered the tour.