Michael Roberts
Moving from west to east across the Indian Ocean, the cyclone Ditwah has wrought unprecedented damage in Sri Lanka and many other countries. The damage has been via sweeping floods as well as landslides. Thus far, 374 deaths and 330 missing are said to be one set of consequences from this dramatic EVENT (see Note A below).
The mental anguish and media imperatives have been promoting what I deem to be a BLAME GAME. The fingers have been pointed at previous administrations and the main planning authorities. Particular emphasis is being attached to the building programmes — houses and urban premises—in the lowland areas of the North-Western, Western and Southern Provinces which have seen the reduction of the wetlands in these regions. The ASSERTION is that these natural features would have absorbed the wrecking force of cyclone Ditwah.
