One Voice

On Tuesday, Sri Lankan legislators called for a single body to issue warnings on potential natural diasters

This is one of the key recommendations that LIRNEasia made in its paper ( NEWS:SL section 2.12, page 18).

Mr. Newton Gunaratne head of the state-run Independent Television Network said:

“We could not find any authority who was willing to say it was safe for people to go back, that is why we need a centralised system from where authoritative information can be obtained.”

LIRNEasia recommended that a well-designed warning system will clearly alert a local population of the hazard and also provide all-clear notofications (NEWS:SL 2.6.6, page 17).

A high-ranking official for media policy said the government will seek a public service clause in licenses issued to broadcasters, requiring uniform disaster alerts.

LIRNEasia highlighted the rudimentary legal and regulatory environment within which the broadcasting industry’s functions where license conditions do not require it to broadcast emergency messages. It recommended that a legal and regulatory system is clarified and regularized as quickly as possible (NEWS:SL 2.26, page 22).

Although it is heartening that the policy debate is picking up on LIRNEasia’s recommendations, there is a danger that we may end up with a fragmented early warning system in Sri Lanka if all the issues that the concept paper has highlighted is not holistically addressed.