Parliament committee warned of impending disaster risks as climate threats mount

Sri Lanka faces increasing disaster risks due to climate change and global warming, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) was informed.

Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Director General Retired Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda has told COPE that the country’s vulnerability to disasters has risen, while the DMC continues to face shortages of staff and resources needed to respond effectively to major emergencies.

He said the institution encountered severe difficulties during Cyclone Ditwah, highlighting shortcomings in its response capacity.

Kotuwegoda said the DMC’s 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre lacks adequate facilities for officers working night shifts, while district disaster management units face delays in responding to emergencies reported outside normal working hours.

He said plans are underway to merge the DMC with the National Disaster Relief Service Centre to address staff shortages, but cautioned that the process would take time and could pose challenges if another major disaster strikes before completion.

The DMC chief also warned that Sri Lanka remains vulnerable to a tsunami, noting that waves generated by a major undersea event near the Andaman Islands could reach the country within around 40 minutes.

He said evacuating millions of people living along the coastal belt within such a limited timeframe would be a major challenge, adding that existing tsunami warning towers are currently non-operational and require repairs.

from The Island https://ift.tt/rKbHWk3