No effect on Lanka

BY RAJMI Manatunga

THE massive earthquake that occurred on the Indo-Pakistan border on Saturday will not have any impact on Sri Lanka, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) assured.

GSMB Assistant Director Bernard Prem told the Daily News that there was no cause to fear a similar quake in Sri Lanka since the tremor had occurred on the ground in the Indian subcontinent.

"An earthquake in the South Asian region will affect Sri Lanka if it takes place in the sea thus creating the possibility of a tsunami. But since Saturday's tremor occurred on the ground in the Indian subcontinent which is separated from Sri Lanka by the Indian Ocean there is no likelihood of it affecting us," he said.

However, he said that Sri Lanka did feel a 'slight vibration' owing to the 7.6 quake which centred on the Pakistani side of Kashmir near the Indian border.

"Around 10 aftershocks of a magnitude ranging from 4.6 to 6.3 have followed Saturday's quake. But even these are unlikely to have an impact upon Sri Lanka," Prem added.