Sajith Calls for National Climate Strategy Ahead of El Niño 🌍

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the National Council for Disaster Management to adopt a science-based, whole-of-government approach to climate resilience, warning of a limited window to prepare for the 2026-2027 El Niño cycle. • Anticipated Climate Impact: Global scientific assessments suggest the upcoming El Niño could rank among the strongest in decades, risking "climate whiplash" characterized by prolonged droughts followed by severe flooding. • Economic & National Security: The proposal emphasizes that climate resilience is directly linked to economic stability, heavily affecting vital sectors such as agriculture, water security, energy, public health, infrastructure, and fiscal stability. • Strategic Proposals: Key recommendations include transitioning to anticipatory governance driven by forecasting, expanding disaster risk financing, and establishing a National Climate Risk and Disaster Intelligence Centre. • Long-Term Policy: Premadasa proposed a Presidential White Paper on National Climate Resilience to ensure a policy framework that outlasts successive administrations, drawing on international best practices from India and Australia.