By: Staff Writer
November 10, Colombo (LNW): The November 6 flash floods have exposed an uncomfortable reality about Sri Lanka’s urban governance: public institutions appear more capable of organising emergency responses after disasters than demonstrating measurable preventive action before they occur.
Colombo did not experience an entirely unexpected weather event. Warnings of above-average monsoon rainfall, accompanied by growing concerns about El Niño-related weather disturbances, had already highlighted the possibility of exceptionally heavy rainfall.
Nevertheless when approximately 129 millimetres of rain fell within an hour, against a reported drainage design capacity of around 30 millimetres per hour, the capital’s drainage network came under overwhelming pressure.
The question is not simply why Colombo flooded. It is why a city repeatedly exposed to seasonal flooding remains so vulnerable despite years of development projects, public expenditure and institutional responsibilities assigned to municipal authorities.
The Colombo Municipal Council cannot blame extreme rainfall alone without explaining the condition of the drainage infrastructure under its administration.
The Torrington and Serpentine canals became subjects of particular concern following the flooding, especially after clearing operations were undertaken in their aftermath. These developments raise an important accountability question: were the canals regularly inspected and maintained before the rainfall, or did the authorities recognise the seriousness of the problem only after residents and motorists suffered the consequences?
Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar and the CMC administration owe Colombo residents a detailed explanation.
How much money was allocated for annual drainage maintenance? How much was actually spent? When were the principal canals and drains last inspected? Were blockages identified, and if so, what action was taken?
These are not political questions. They concern public safety and the proper utilisation of taxpayers’ money.Equally disturbing is the history of Colombo’s flood-control investments.
The Metro Colombo Urban Development Project, launched in 2018 with approximately US$104 million in World Bank financing, was intended to strengthen the city’s resilience against flooding. Its implementation was subsequently disrupted by the economic crisis in 2022.
Meanwhile, the revised Rs.15.07 billion Kolonnawa stormwater management project represents another major commitment to addressing the capital’s water-management vulnerabilities.
But how effectively have these investments translated into protection for residents?
The public deserves a project-by-project assessment identifying completed infrastructure, outstanding construction, financial commitments and measurable reductions in flood risks.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the NPP administration of failing in preventive water management. The Government should respond with evidence rather than political counterattacks.
The Presidential Secretary, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, has ordered a task force to address the flooding.
However, the establishment of another task force must not become a substitute for investigating institutional negligence, identifying administrative failures and fixing responsibility.
There is also a wider economic dimension that cannot be ignored.
Colombo is the country’s principal commercial and administrative centre. Every major flooding incident threatens business continuity, transport networks, property values, household incomes and investor confidence. The cost ultimately falls on businesses, workers, consumers and taxpayers.
More importantly, motorists trapped in rapidly rising floodwaters faced potentially life-threatening situations. The authorities must establish whether emergency alerts, road closures and evacuation arrangements were adequate.
The Government must now publish an independent technical investigation into the November 6 flooding, including rainfall intensity, drainage capacity, canal conditions and the performance of existing flood-control infrastructure.
The NPP administration came to power promising a break from the administrative failures of previous governments.
Colombo’s flooding presents an immediate test of that promise.
A Government cannot claim effective governance merely by responding to disasters. Its credibility depends on preventing avoidable disasters, protecting public investment and holding responsible institutions accountable.
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