Make public aware about dangers of lightning: Astronomer

Shirley WIJESINGHE

COLOMBO: More than 80 per cent of deaths that occur due to lightning can be avoided if the public is made aware about dangers of lightning, astronomer Dr. Chandana Jayaratne said.

“Humans, plants and livestock can be affected by lightening. The University of Colombo was heavily damaged by lightning in 2005,” he told a workshop organised by the Environment Committee of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) in collaboration with Lanka Association for Sustainable Development.

Dr. Jayaratne said to avoid being struck by lightening at least 10 meters should be kept from vegetation when constructing houses.

People should not use land and mobile phones and walkmans and use thunder repulsing instruments manufactured locally at a low cost.

A person struck by lightening should be given artificial respiration within five minutes, he said.

Head of the Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa P.K.S. Mahanama speaking on preventing flash floods in major cities, proposed that the role of the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) should be changed to maintain drainage and canals in the urban areas.

The regular maintenance of drainage and canals in urban areas should be assigned to the local body, he said.

Mahanama pointed out that blocking canals, adhoc reclamation of low lying areas and conflict of interest are the main reasons for flash floods in the City of Colombo.

Representatives from the SLLRDC and the UDA also participated.