Tremors felt in most parts of Lanka

Disna Mudalige and Ridma Dissanayake

A tsunami warning was issued yesterday by the Disaster Management Center for coastal areas in Sri Lanka as an earthquake of the magnitude of 8.6 on the Richter scale struck the west coast of Northern Sumatra around 2.08pm local time. Tremors were felt in several parts of the island including Dondra point, Colombo, Jaffna and Trincomalee.

People rushing home after a tsunami warning was issued yesterday. Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe

Measures were taken to evacuate people from coastal areas and to bring back fishermen who were at sea by the Disaster Management Regional Coordination Units with the coordination of Security Forces and district fisheries departments.

The Police had also tightened security throughout the island.

In most public and private institutions, employees were allowed to leave early following the tsunami alert. There had been a temporary power cut along the coastal belt while telephone and mobile lines were also congested.

Congestion on roads and interruptions to coastal railway and public transport services were also experienced in several parts of the island following the tsunami alert.

Due to the congestion on the Galle -Colombo route and the temporary suspension of railway services, the Southern Expressway was opened free of charge to the public.

It was also reported that the leave of health officers along the branches of coastal belt were canceled with immediate effect .

A tsunami warning was issued in 28 countries including Indonesia, India, Thailand, Australia and Burma.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 33 kilometers.