The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has urged the public not to panic or create unnecessary fear, emphasizing that this is only a special preparedness exercise, carried out under official UNESCO guidelines.
The practical tsunami drill involves selected Grama Niladhari divisions in the coastal districts of Batticaloa, Jaffna, Galle, and Kalutara, with the main national exercise commencing at 8:30 a.m. in Kalutara District.
The program is being conducted with the participation of multiple government and institutional stakeholders, including the Disaster Management Centre, Department of Meteorology, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, District and Divisional Secretariats, Tri-Forces, Police, the National Disaster Relief Services Centre, local government institutions, schools, and hotels.
According to the DMC, the objective of the exercise is to strengthen national readiness and community awareness for an effective response in the event of a real tsunami emergency.
