Wednesday, 3 December 2025

 Matthew GUY (Bulleen) (10:17): I rise to make some comments around the devastating floods and mudslides that are taking place in Sri Lanka at present, where the death toll has exceeded 300 people and the country is grappling with one of its worst weather disasters in years. There are still hundreds of people missing, 20,000 homes have been destroyed and over 100,000 people have been sent to state-run temporary shelters. And officials say that around a third of the country is without electricity and running water, and a state of emergency has been announced following Cyclone Ditwah. President Anura Dissanayake has said that it is one of the country’s most challenging natural disasters, if not ever, and that it was so severe that estimates for the reconstruction are staggering. Victoria’s Sri Lankan community is a very strong and powerful one, and I want to send my best wishes to them at a very, very difficult time for many people in that community who have family who are suffering from the effects of what is occurring back home in Sri Lanka where their families currently are.