🚨 Cyclone Ditwah Exposes Sri Lanka's Early Warning Gap 🚨

Cyclone Ditwah in late November highlighted a critical weakness in Sri Lanka's disaster management: the gap between accurate early warnings and public response. • Despite The Meteorological Department, Irrigation Department, and National Building Research Organisation issuing continuous, accurate warnings well in advance for flooding, landslides, and water hazards, public preparedness and community reaction fell short, leading to significant property damage and loss of a few hundred lives. • While the technical aspects of early warning systems, supported by technological advancements, functioned effectively, the translation of these warnings into action remains critically weak. • Key reasons for poor public response included underestimation of hazard severity, treating warnings as routine, lack of specific guidance on actions, and community resistance to evacuation. • The article emphasizes the urgent need for: • Continuous community engagement, education, and preparedness training. • Strengthening community-level disaster preparedness programs involving schools, religious institutions, and community-based organizations. • Simplifying risk communication to ensure public understanding and prompt action. • With climate change intensifying extreme weather events, cultivating a culture of preparedness is crucial for Sri Lanka to mitigate future disaster impacts.