I was asked by a journalist from the Express Group to comment on the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center’s use or non-use of available technological solutions, specifically some kind of VSAT facility in Padukka. I said I was not in a position to comment on this, but said I would comment their good use of DEWN and their inexplicable non-use of Sahana.
Both DEWN and Sahana were technological solutions developed within Sri Lanka by Sri Lankans in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. DEWN is a CAP-compliant robust method for communicating with first responders. It was handed over to the DMC in 2009 and has been well used since. It has since been upgraded for the smartphone era.
Sahana software that helps bridge information gaps in post-disaster situations, was developed by volunteer software engineers under the aegis of the Lanka Software Foundation. It is used in many countries and locations, including the City of New York. But not in Sri Lanka.
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