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| Friday, 25 February 2005 |
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by Ranil Wijayapala and Bharatha Malawaraarachchi The three Service Commanders and the Inspector General of Police yesterday stressed the need to work out operational procedures for the Armed Forces and the Police to work with civilian organisations to respond in the event of a natural disaster without delay. Chief of Defence Staff and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Army Commander Lt. General Shantha Kottegoda, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Donald Perera and Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando stressed on this necessity yesterday before the Parliament Select Committee inquiring into the country's disaster preparedness. Sandagiri said Armed Forces are geared to face disasters. However, he said there was a lack of coordination at the time of the tsunami disaster when working with the civilian organisations though the three Forces promptly responded to the disaster despite their own limitations on the ground. He pointed out the necessity of identifying disaster prone areas in the country for deployment of Armed Forces personnel trained to handle such disasters to face such situations in the future. Kottegoda also expressing his views on the same lines, emphasised the need to work out operational procedures to quickly react to such human disasters. He said the services of the Armed Forces can easily be used to handle such disaster situations as they are well trained on these matters. The Air Force Commander also emphasised the necessity of working out a system to pass the message of an early warning system after receiving the message from relevant authorities. The IGP in his presentation to the Select Committee emphasised the need for plans at national level and provincial level. "Even the Police should be trained on their role when facing disasters," he added. He also emphasised the necessity of having rehearsals from time to time to keep them vigilant to react to disasters. Chairman of the Committee Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe at the commencement of the proceedings informed the committee that the Government was ready to present the Disaster Management Bill in Parliament today. Representatives from political parties participated at the meeting. |
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