Let’s prepare for the next disaster

The recent cyclone disaster like the earlier Tsunami, has caught us all by surprise. Preventable    loss of life and property has caused the country dearly.

There is no point now going on the usual blame game,  but we have to think of organising our preparedness to meet whatever disaster that comes our way.

We should firstly organise ourselves  to meet the contingency and manage it thereafter. The media showed us that in many places people were told to vacate,   but where could they go?One lady said she had no place to go! I suggest that disaster preparedness committees be set up in each grama sewaka division.

Their  main function being to inform the people of the impending disaster and where they should go immediately. If possible transport arrangements should be made to take them to their nominated places.

The disaster management committees should thereafter organise the management provision of food, bedding etc accordingly.

My point is that pre disaster preparation is important to save lives.

Nimal Ranasinghe
Kohuwala