A lawyer residing in Kandy has filed a Fundamental Rights Petition with the Supreme Court, seeking a ruling that his fundamental human rights were violated due to the authorities’ failure to take necessary measures to mitigate the damage caused by Cyclone Ditva, Sri Lanka Latest News reports.
The petition was filed by lawyer Keerthi Bandara Kiridena.
The petition names the Attorney General, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, other cabinet members, and members of the National Disaster Management Committee as respondents, representing the President.
According to the petitioner, his law office, located adjacent to the Kandy Court Complex, was completely destroyed due to the recent cyclones and floods. As a result, he alleges that significant data stored on his computer systems was lost, causing severe professional and financial losses.
He claims that this disastrous situation arose due to the negligence or dereliction of duty of the respondents in taking preventive measures before the disaster. The petitioner further asserts that the potential damages could have been minimized if timely action had been taken in advance.
Specifically, he argues that if proper steps had been taken to inform the public prior to the release of water from the Kotmale Reservoir, the massive damages caused by floods in Gampola, Galaha, Peradeniya, and Kandy could have been reduced.
Accordingly, the petitioner requests the Supreme Court to rule that his fundamental human rights were violated due to the respondents’ negligence.
