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Today marks the 20th anniversary of the devastating tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in 2004, killing over 35,000 people. While Sri Lankan history recounts instances of the sea flowing overland during the era of King Kelanitissa and Kavantissa and Queen Viharamahadevi being sacrificed to the sea, the nation was unprepared for the unprecedented destruction on that day. To date, there is no information about some 5,000 persons who went missing during the disaster.
In remembrance of those lives, a National Safety Day commemoration will be held today (26) at 9:00 am at the Defence Ministry’s Disaster Management Division.
The event will be presided over by the Deputy Defence Minister, with the Defence Secretary in attendance. Similar observances will take place across districts under the leadership of district secretaries, organised by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
The Disaster Management Centre has also called on all Sri Lankans to observe two minutes’ silence from 9:25 am to 9:27 am today to honour those who perished in the tsunami and other disasters.
The financial cost, including damage to property, infrastructure, and the environment, amounted to billions of rupees. Beyond material losses, the social impact on affected communities remains immeasurable. In response, the Government has established a comprehensive disaster management framework to mitigate future risks and enhance the nation’s preparedness for such calamities.
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Upali Karunaratne and Ariyaratne Ganegoda
