The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) of Sri Lanka said today is the International Tsunami awareness day and it will conduct an evacuation drill in coastal districts of the country today.
Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre, Pradeep Kodippili said the drill will be held at 2:00 p.m. local time in 14 coastal districts around the country.
During the drill, the 74 tsunami pre-warning towers around the island will be activated and the alarms will be sounded. The official requested the people in those districts not to panic when they hear the alarms.
Drills of this nature are expected to raise awareness in the public on how to react to an emergency situation such as a tsunami, the DMC official said.
The main event to mark the Tsunami Awareness Day will be held in Kalutara under the patronage of Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.
In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly designated 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day to promote a global culture of tsunami awareness.
The 2004 Boxing Day Indian Ocean tsunami devastated Sri Lanka killing over 35,000 people end rendering over 100,000 homeless.
