- Telco towers, connectivity should have redundancy in their power supply
- Fibre optic cable network to be fortified
In the aftermath of the communications outage that occurred during the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, the Government is planning to introduce changes to the national communications architecture, it is learnt.
Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Director – Preparedness Planning Chathura Liyanaarachchi told The Sunday Morning: “We propose mandatory national standards for telecom operators to reinforce tower bases and use fortified fibre optic conduits. It is critical to have dedicated and guaranteed communication lines for decision-makers and first responders.
“Lessons learnt from this event include exploring solar-powered solutions and drone technology to maintain connectivity in extreme conditions. Implementing such resilient systems requires support from the Treasury, as current budget allocations for disaster risk reduction are disproportionately low compared to relief needs.”
Despite country-wide communications outages during the cyclone, Sri Lanka has made significant progress in restoring its disrupted telecommunications services. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne reported that more than 95% of connectivity had now been restored.
He stated: “Our immediate priority was repairing the fibre network and restoring cell sites. We also activated certain Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) fibre networks for telecommunications that were not used previously, which provided a backup while the primary fibre was being restored. I would say the emergency situation is now over. More than 95% of the network has been recovered and the remaining sites will be restored in the coming days.”
He emphasised the ongoing role of power availability in completing restoration. “In many areas, electricity is still not available, which prevents sites from operating. We are transporting generators and fuel to the most critical sites. We have mobilised all available resources to ensure that the remaining connectivity is restored as quickly as possible.
“The support of the armed forces has been invaluable in accessing flooded and remote areas. The Navy provided boats to reach sites cut off by floods and the Army assisted with access to difficult terrain. Many of the connections we have restored are temporary, and we are coordinating with the Road Development Authority to maintain them until permanent links can be re-established after road repairs.”
Weeraratne also discussed the deployment of alternative communication technologies, noting: “For on-the-ground relief work, we deployed satellite phones and a set of Starlink devices, as we have done in previous emergencies. The Radio Society of Sri Lanka provided consistent and valuable assistance by establishing a network to collect information from affected areas and feed it into the disaster management platform. Over a thousand operators participated nationwide, which was very helpful in coordinating relief efforts and monitoring the situation in areas where traditional networks were down.”
Further elaborating on logistical challenges, he said that landslides and flooding had made many sites extremely difficult to reach. “While we had built redundancy into the network, multiple, widespread landslides disconnected even backup links to the same sites. Going forward, to increase resilience, we will need to evaluate different network models and alternative communication technologies to ensure continuity during future disasters.”
Structural disruption and recovery measures
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) Director General Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Bandula Herath noted that the cyclone had caused extensive damage to the electricity supply and fibre optic networks.
“Many towers remain operational, but damage to fibre lines left parts of the central hills and Eastern Province without reliable connectivity. This severely hampered disaster response operations. Our teams are prioritising restoring essential communication links, and we are rerouting fibre traffic through alternative paths where main lines were severed. Temporary generator-powered towers have been deployed to maintain services independently of the national grid, and we are making steady progress in stabilising infrastructure while permanent repairs continue.”
Outlining fibre-sharing arrangements and backup systems, he said that since the CEB had its own fibre network, its technical teams were working on a plan to share the CEB’s fibre capacity to bridge the gaps and restore connectivity.
“This arrangement is unprecedented in scope and will help us fast-track restoration in districts where commercial fibre cannot yet be repaired. While progress has been significant, full recovery is contingent on continued access to sites, restoration of power, and completion of permanent repairs.”
DMC perspective
Explaining the impact of communication failures during the cyclone, Liyanaarachchi said that connectivity was absolutely critical for disaster response. “During Cyclone Ditwah, power failures led to tower outages, and even when generators were deployed, fuel shortages left areas such as Ratnapura without power for several days. The event exposed vulnerabilities in our infrastructure and emergency systems.
“Our communication system links the National Emergency Operational Centre with technical agencies and districts down to the last mile, but the extreme rainfall and nighttime occurrence of the cyclone overwhelmed these systems. While rehearsals and preparedness exercises help, they cannot fully mitigate the impact of an event of this magnitude.”
He also highlighted the role of communication in enabling assessments and services, stating that the Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) had presented preliminary findings, but ongoing access challenges and communication disruptions limited data coverage.
“Some areas remained inaccessible because of blocked roads, safety risks, and disrupted communication networks. Supply chains in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries were severely affected, and market closures, along with communication breakdowns, hindered coordination between producers, buyers, and suppliers. Connectivity constraints also reduced the capacity of child protection personnel to operate effectively. As networks are restored, services such as the child protection helpline (1929) are expected to receive more calls and resume full functionality.”
Integration of Rapid Needs Assessment findings
The Joint Rapid Needs Assessment report provides detailed information on the scale and impact of communication disruptions. It recorded over 65,000 power outages and telecom failures as of 1 December. The report notes that ongoing access challenges and communication disruptions limited the initial assessment, and some areas remained inaccessible due to blocked roads and safety risks.
Emphasising the importance of these findings, Weeraratne said that the Rapid Needs Assessment highlighted the critical role of telecommunications in maintaining essential services and coordinating relief efforts.
“Restoring connectivity allows emergency services to operate effectively, enables families to communicate, and supports the resumption of economic and social activities. The work we are doing with telecom operators, Government agencies, and volunteer networks ensures that communities regain access as quickly as possible.”
Technical measures and ongoing restoration
TRCSL Director Herath explained that the commission and telecom operators had prioritised fibre restoration, tower stabilisation, and alternative power solutions, with their teams working to restore backbone fibre networks while ensuring that towers remained operational with temporary generators.
“Fibre rerouting allows partial restoration of services while permanent repairs continue. Coordination with road and transport authorities facilitates access to remote or obstructed sites. These measures are essential to support disaster response and maintain services for affected communities.”
Weeraratne added that generators and fuel had been transported to key sites and temporary solutions had been deployed to maintain services while permanent infrastructure was being repaired. “Many towers are located in mountainous or flood-prone areas, which makes access challenging. The support of the armed forces has been essential in overcoming these obstacles, ensuring that emergency communications can be maintained.”
Restoration impact on communities
The restoration of telecommunications services has enabled emergency services, Government agencies, and communities to resume communication and coordination.
Weeraratne emphasised that restoring mobile communication was the number one priority. “Within 24 hours, we restored nine of 11 affected buildings, and then focused on rebuilding network coverage. Families in affected areas can now contact relatives, receive updates, and access relief services. Maintaining temporary connections until permanent infrastructure is repaired ensures that essential communication is available to those who need it most.”
Liyanaarachchi explained that connectivity was not only necessary for disaster response but also for community services. “During Cyclone Ditwah, disrupted communication affected the ability to provide timely support. By restoring networks and implementing long-term resilience measures, we can ensure that critical services such as child protection, supply chain coordination, and emergency helplines function effectively during future disasters.”
Planning for future resilience
Liyanaarachchi also emphasised the need for investment in resilient telecommunications infrastructure, noting that implementing long-term solutions required prioritisation and Treasury support.
“We must strengthen tower bases, use fortified fibre conduits, and maintain dedicated communication lines for first responders and decision-makers. Exploring alternative power sources and technological innovations, such as solar-powered systems and drones, will further enhance resilience. Lessons from Cyclone Ditwah must inform future planning to reduce the impact of similar events.”
Weeraratne concluded: “The restoration of connectivity is a national priority. Reconnecting communities enables the continuation of emergency operations, resumption of economic and social activities, and access to essential services. Continued coordination between Government agencies, telecom operators, and volunteer networks will ensure that all areas regain reliable communication and that systems are prepared for future events.”