Data to warn of impending disasters

Dharme Sri Abeyratne

COLOMBO: The latest early warning data and geological charts made available by the Italian Government would enable the Sri Lankan public to be alerted beforehand to impending disasters like tsunamis.

"Sri Lankans will now definitely be able to minimise the damage any disaster like the tsunami in the future with the availability of these maps which can be used to get the nation prepared," Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said.

The Minister was addressing a ceremony in Colombo to hand over high resolution three dimensional maps along with experimental reports on the tsunami by the Italian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Salvatore Zotta.

He said the maps have been provided by the Italian Government using modern technology and it consists of two third of Sri Lanka's coastal belt affected by the tsunami. The mapping project covered Paanama to Puttalam.

The Italian Government spent Rs. 500 million for the project. This is a goodwill gesture towards Sri Lanka by the Italian Government.

The Disaster Management Ministry will make the best use of these maps to minimise the damage caused by disasters like the tsunami, Samarasinghe added.