Under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka launched a state-of-the-art disaster early warning system on December 19. The initiative, a collaboration between the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), and major telephone service providers like SLT Mobitel, Hutch, Dialog, and Airtel, was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the President’s Office.
The MoU, inked by DMC’s Director General Major General (Retired) S. Ranasinghe and TRCSL’s Director General Madhushanka Dissanayake, marked a pivotal step in fortifying the country’s disaster response infrastructure.
Key figures from telecom giants, including Supun Weerasinghe of Dialog Axiata, Janaka R. Abeysinghe of SLT, Ashish Chandra of Bharti Airtel Lanka, Sudarshan Giganage of Mobitel Pvt. Ltd., and Samitra Gupta of Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka Pvt. Ltd., were actively involved in the ceremony, signaling a united effort toward bolstering disaster preparedness.
This groundbreaking system aims to enhance citizen safety during various disasters, leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide more effective early warnings through telephone networks. Initially focusing on tsunami disasters, the system targets around 60,000 mobile and landline numbers across 14 high-risk districts. It will issue immediate warnings through a distinct “Ring Tone” notification coupled with a siren sound, significantly improving nighttime alert effectiveness.
Set for a public rollout on “National Security Day” on December 26, 2023, the system’s scope is projected to expand. Future enhancements will incorporate warnings for landslides and floods, elevating its comprehensive disaster response capabilities.
The high-profile launch saw the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including State Minister for Defence Pramita Bandara Thennakoon, President’s Senior Advisor on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the Defence Ministry General Kamal Gunaratne (Retired), and key officials from the Disaster Management Centre, Brigadier T.C. Harasgama, and Mr. Pradeep Kodippili, among others.
