All 77 tsunami early warning towers across Sri Lanka are expected to be reactivated within the next one-and-a-half months, according to Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Director (Awareness) Pradeep Kodippili.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Kodippili explained that the towers had remained inactive for nearly three years due to issues with the satellite responsible for transmitting signals to the warning network. 

However, he emphasised that steps had already been taken to resolve the technical problems and restore the system to full operation.

Kodippili added that there were no plans to dismantle the towers, as they remained a vital component of the country’s early warning system.

Each tsunami early warning tower cost around Rs. 4 million to construct and is designed to cover a radius of approximately 3 sq km. Kodippili noted that, in addition to the towers, there were 15 other early warning mechanisms currently in place, ensuring that alerts could still reach communities even if one system failed.

“The towers are only one part of the broader early warning mechanism. Even if they are inactive, other systems are ready to ensure that warnings reach the village level,” he said.

The DMC further revealed that discussions were ongoing with several international organisations, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to help reactivate the entire tsunami early warning network.

According to Kodippili, the satellite used to transmit the tower signals is owned by a US-based company, for which the Government pays Rs. 7 million annually.

He added that, despite the technical challenges, the Police and armed forces continued to play a key role in disseminating tsunami warnings to ensure communities along the coast remained protected.