Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Director – Awareness Pradeep Kodippili is holding his ground against allegations that disaster warnings were not issued promptly, stating that the centre had issued timely updates on its official platforms during the recent flooding and landslide events.
“I do not believe there were delays in issuing warnings, because our website is generally updated,” he claimed.
He added that he would need to verify whether those warnings had reached residents in the affected localities, as reports had emerged suggesting that many people did not receive evacuation instructions before conditions worsened.
The current situation has prompted increased scrutiny of how alerts were issued and disseminated across impacted districts.
Kodippili explained that flood-related warnings were first issued by the Irrigation Department when water levels rose or when reservoirs required releases, while landslide warnings were issued by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO).
The DMC is responsible for coordinating and distributing these warnings to the public, working alongside the Meteorology Department.
Kodippili noted that ongoing power interruptions, communication failures, and road obstructions may have affected the delivery of warnings during this period. He said that any assessment of communication gaps would need to be conducted after emergency operations concluded.
Meanwhile, the NBRO stated that it had issued technical warnings in advance of the severe weather. NBRO Director – Environmental Studies and Services Division H.D.S. Premasiri said that the organisation began releasing warnings at least two weeks prior to the heaviest rainfall.
He emphasised that the NBRO’s role was limited to issuing technical assessments, while the responsibility for public dissemination lay with the DMC. Premasiri also acknowledged that communication disruptions may have limited the reach of certain alerts.
The collapse of several bridges, including the Moragahakanda Laggala Bridge, the Elahera Bridge, and the Kumara Ella Bridge, has highlighted the impact of extreme rainfall on essential infrastructure.
These failures resulted in reduced access to a number of areas and slowed the movement of emergency teams. According to regional officials, the loss of these structures affected evacuation efforts and delayed relief distribution.
Residents in some districts reported difficulty evacuating due to blocked routes and emergency personnel were forced to use alternative access points after major bridges became impassable. Authorities stated that infrastructure assessments were ongoing and that temporary access solutions were being established where possible.
The circumstances surrounding the issuance and transmission of early warnings are expected to be reviewed once the situation stabilises. Authorities have indicated that the review will consider the timing of technical warnings, the transmission of public alerts, the accessibility of communication channels, and the condition of evacuation routes prior to the onset of flooding and landslides.
– By Faizer Shaheid