Met Dept proposes colour icon system

Disna MUDALIGE

The Meteorology Department has proposed a colour icon system to inform and warn of hazards to the general public in a more effective manner, said Director General G.B. Samarasinghe.

Addressing the Third National Forum held at the Renuka hotel yesterday, he noted that colour codes for different alert levels staring with the normal to severe threats have been proposed with signs and shapes representing hazards such as tsunami, cyclone, heavy rain and lightning.

Disaster Management Minister A.H.M Fouzie delivering the inaugural address, pointed out that the correct and simplified information on weather forecast must reach the general public more effectively.

"Every year lives have been lost and cultivations destroyed due to disaster situations, and we must arrange powerful means to warn people beforehand," he noted.

The feedback on colour icon system has shown that this system is successful, and the icons are well understood by the communities. The alert levels were welcomed by them as it distinguishes on what action to be taken based on colors. The Met Department hopes to display this information in public places such as schools, beach, warning towers, temples, Grama Niladari Offices, important roads and junctions etc.

While inducting the colour icon system, the department plans a series of awareness programs to educate the people about the new system.

This system is already being implemented in other countries such as China, Japan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.