Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-05-30

Repealing the Flood Protection Ordinance, No.4 of 1924 and enacting a new Flood Management Act

- The Minister in charge of the subject is empowered to declare areas that can be affected by floods under the Flood Protection Ordinance, No.4 of 1924 and the authority to take appropriate measures for the protection of such areas has been vested with the Director of Irrigation. This Ordinance has been subject to a minor amendment only once. Considering the social, economic, environmental, climatic and institutional changes that had taken place during the past a necessity has now arisen to address the present and future eventualities by enacting a new Flood Management Act incorporating provision to minimize the damages which my be caused to lives, property, environment and the economy from the adverse effects of flood disasters caused by rivers and reservoirs and as well as urban and local storm waters and various other causes. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa, the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to draft a new Flood Management Bill repealing the Flood Protection Ordinance, No.4 of 1924, was approved by the Cabinet.