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Monday night tsunami scare:
Success and shortcomings
By Chandani Kirinde
Although, Monday's tsunami scare was a trying time for government agencies entrusted with the task of issuing warnings and evacuation of civilians in times of natural disasters, preparedness on their part led to a timely issuing of a national alert and to the successful evacuation of all coastal areas.

The three months since the December 26 catastrophe have led to a more co-ordinated effort by government agencies to handle situations such as the one witnessed on Monday.

The work of disseminating information via the media has been entrusted to a presidential committee headed by the Meteorological Department Chief and consisting of senior officials from several key government institutions, including the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) and the National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA). Meteorology Dept. Director G.H.P.Dharmaratne said the agencies had sprung into action as soon as news was received of the seismic activity in the seas off North Sumatra and within an hour a possible tsunami alert was issued via the media and through the Police and the military.

He said since December 26 the Japanese Meteorology Agency had been passing on information to the local authorities while there was regular contacts with both the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC).

On Monday night, the GSMB and the Meteorology Department were alerted by the USGS and the PTWC on a possible tsunami threat and the necessary action was taken immediately, Mr. Dharmaratne said.

The Meteorology Department has been chosen as the focal point from which to issue a national alarm. GSMB Director Sarath Weerawarnakula said the bureau had been maintaining a 24-hour monitoring system since December 26 and on Monday night they alerted the authorities concerned as soon as they received information of unusual seismic activity from the Pallekele seismic monitoring station.

The Navy too assisted in the dissemination of information and with the Police and military moving onto the streets and helping in the evacuation process.

But despite the success, the Monday night experience also highlights shortcomings and stresses the need for more preparedness. The lack of earmarked safety places to evacuate people was one such shortcoming. On Monday night, most people were evacuated to schools and temples, churches. Also strongly felt was the need for a national disaster management council, which a bill presented to Parliament recently seeks to set up. The bill has now been referred to a standing committee of Parliament with the Government and the Opposition not in agreement with all its contents.

Meanwhile, the need for an early warning system for the Indian Ocean too is being discussed among the countries in the region and Japan has stepped in to assist Sri Lanka until a proper system comes into place. (See box story).

So while the March 28 alert proved to be a success, it also highlighted the need for the authorities to be constantly vigilant on possible natural disasters in the country.

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