Government says early warning was not taken seriously

30 May, 2017

The?Government says early warnings issued to landslide prone areas had not been taken seriously by some people, costing them their lives.

Cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that one family was killed when they disregarded a warning to evacuate as they were cooking while another family took time to gather their belongings.

“If they left their homes when they were told to do so they would have been safe,” the Minister said at a press briefing at the Disaster Management Centre today.

The Minister?defended the Government’s preparedness to face natural disasters following the floods and landslides which killed nearly 200 people so far.

Senaratne told reporters that Sri Lanka was caught by surprise when the heavy rain brought floods and landslides. (Colombo Gazette)

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