Govt ready to meet any natural disaster - PM
by H.L. Sunil Shantha, Kalutara Central Cor.
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Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne opens the newly introduced Hot
line of the Disasteralarm-Management Ministry 117 and makes the
first telephone call.
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Thousands of people lost their lives during the tsunami disaster nine
years ago. President Mahinda Rajapaksa the then Prime Minister, took the
lead rendering assistance to tsunami survivers. Thousands of houses were
constructed to relocate them said Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne.He was
addressing the 9th commemoration of the national safety day, held at the
Kalutara district secretariat auditorium, recently.
The Premier said, the government specially the disaster management
ministry, together with the Meteorological Department has taken adequate
preventive measures to safeguard the people and property in any future
tsunami or other natural disaster.
Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had to bear the brunt
of handling the tsunami-hit country, within such a short period.
A new hot-line 117 set up by the Disaster Management Ministry was
opened by the Prime Minister making the first telephone call. The people
can now be alerted through the hot number so that preventive measures
could be adopted to minimise the unpact of natural disasters the Prime
Minister said.
Minister Amaraweera said that, within a very short period the
government could re-build the country. Today Sri Lanka is safer compared
to the situation prior to the tsunami.
People are more enlightened and with better preparedness they could
take preventive measures to avoid greater damage to life and property he
said.
The tsunami-alarm system installed at several key places by the
Disaster Management Ministry has been very useful in pre-warning of any
disaster.
A national disaster committee of which the President Rajapaksa will
be the Chairman set up soon, the Minister said.
Disaster Management Deputy Minister Dulip Wijesekara and Transport
Minister Kumara Welgama also spoke.
Prime Minister Jayaratne awarded certificates to the winners of the
Islandwide tsunami competitions on essay-writing, songs and poems. Life
jackets were presented to fishermen in the Kalutara district. |
