Speaking at a media briefing Gammanpila said relying solely on sirens is an outdated and unreliable approach, especially during heavy rainfall when the sound may not travel effectively or provide adequate time for residents to respond.
He claimed that officials can easily calculate the estimated time for the reservoir to reach full capacity by analysing water inflow rates, allowing them to predict hours in advance when the spill gates will need to be opened. This, he argued, would enable timely alerts through SMS, social media, and other digital platforms.
“Siren use is more than 100 years old. During heavy rain, people may not hear it, and even if they do, ten minutes is not enough to take action. With today’s technology, officials can estimate when the reservoir will reach full capacity and when the gates must be opened, well in advance,” Gammanpila said.
He urged the authorities to modernise their emergency communication systems to better protect communities living downstream of major reservoirs.
