DMM watchful of climatic changes and weather

by P. Krishnaswamy

The Disaster Management Ministry (DMM) is watchful and ready to handle any eventuality of natural disaster and is working in close coordination with the Red Cross and the Japanese International Corporation (JAICA), Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said at a media conference. The repeated tremors experienced in Ampara and some areas of the central hill country and the red rain are occurrences of concern and the Ministry, together with the other relevant authorities, is working on ascertaining the actual cause although several theories have been put forward by some, he said.

A separate Ministry and a Centre was created by the UPFA Government with considerable fund allocation. President Mahinda Rajapaksa increased fund allocations every year since 2006 and the Ministry has rapidly developed the observation, monitoring, weather forecasting and early warning system. The system will be brought on par with the systems in the developed and technically advanced countries next year, he said. Rs. 400 million has been allocated for the purpose under the Mahinda Chintana program. The process of installing the doppler weather radar on Gongalakanda Hills in Deniyaya was delayed due to bad weather conditions and the work will be completed early next year, the Minister said. His ministry is holding periodical discussions with the Ministries of Education, Environment, Child Development and Women's Affairs and as well as with the JICA, ICRC, UNDP and the relevant NGOs. The JAICA and the UNDP are extending financial assistance, he said.

Details on disaster-prone areas and action to be taken at an emergency will be computerised in Government offices throughout the country. It has already been done in government offices in Colombo, Minister Amaraweera said. All divisional-level government servants will be required to work in coordination in the event of any emergency, he said.

The national safety day observed every year on December 26 to commemorate the victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami will be held in Badulla this time with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. A two-minutes silence from 9:25 a.m.to 9.27 a.m. will be observed on that as in the previous years, the Minister said, adding that he is appealing to the entire nation to join the observation of the two minute silence. The Disaster Management Centre held the national event at Galle in 2006, Ratnapura in 2007, Kandy in 2008, Kurunegala in 2009, Jaffna in 2010 and Batticaloa in 2011, he said.