Tsunami exercise in several coastal districts on Wednesday: DMC

Colombo, Nov. 3 (Daily Mirror) - The Indian Ocean Tsunami Exercise (IOWave25) is scheduled to be conducted in coastal districts of Batticaloa, Jaffna, Galle and Kalutara at 8:30 a.m. on November 5, 2025, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

This national simulation is part of a region-wide exercise coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IОСUNESCO) through the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS), the DMC added.

The Department said the exercise aims to test and strengthen the national tsunami early warning and communication systems, validate the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and enhance preparedness among communities and first responders. 

"The activity will involve the active participation of key national agencies including the Department of Meteorology (as the National Tsunami Warning Centre -

NTWC), Tri Forces, Police, National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC), local authorities, schools, hotels and communities in the four selected coastal districts of Batticaloa, Jaffna, Galle and Kalutara. The exercise will begin at 8:30 a.m. on 5 November 2025, and the main national exercise will take place in the Kalutara district," DMC said in a statement.

The Department said this is only a special exercise conducted under the official guidelines of the UNESCO-IOTWMS and not a real emergency.

It said in the unlikely event of a real tsunami threat occurring during the exercise period, the IOWave25 simulation will be immediately discontinued and the Department of Meteorology and the Disaster Management Centre will promptly activate the official national tsunami warning and response mechanisms in accordance with the established national protocols and procedures.