October 25, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has announced plans for a comprehensive island-wide tsunami simulation on November 05, aimed at testing the country’s readiness to respond swiftly and effectively to potential seismic threats.
The announcement was made by the DMC’s Director General, Major General (Retd.) Sampath Kotuwegoda, who confirmed that preparations are already underway for the large-scale exercise involving national and regional authorities.
Speaking during a high-level meeting attended by representatives from the Tri-Forces, Police, government departments, and humanitarian agencies, Major General Kotuwegoda highlighted the importance of vigilance, noting that a series of minor tremors had recently been detected near the Sumatra Trench — the same fault line responsible for the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
The upcoming simulation, coordinated under the framework of the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), will include participation from 28 countries across the region. The exercise is designed not only to assess the effectiveness of early warning systems but also to ensure that evacuation routes, communication protocols, and inter-agency coordination mechanisms are fully functional.
According to the DMC, key coastal districts such as Kalutara, Matara, Jaffna, and Batticaloa will serve as focal points for the drill, though all other districts are expected to take part in varying capacities. Local authorities, schools, and community organisations are being encouraged to participate actively to strengthen public awareness and response capacity.
Major General Kotuwegoda underscored the importance of preparedness, explaining that any undersea earthquake exceeding 6.5 on the Richter scale near the Sumatra Trench could generate tsunami waves with the potential to reach Sri Lanka’s coastline within hours. He stressed that proactive training and coordination are essential to protect lives and minimise damage in the event of such a natural disaster.
