Colombo: The Indian Ocean Tsunami Mock Exercise (IOWave 25) is set to take place tomorrow, aligning with “World Tsunami Awareness Day.” This exercise will be held in coastal areas of the island under the coordination and supervision of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), which is part of the Ministry of Defence. Scheduled to start on Wednesday morning, the exercise aims to bolster preparedness for potential tsunami threats.
According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, the IOWave 25 has been organized as a regional exercise coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC – UNESCO) through the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS). The simulation is set to commence at 08.30 am, focusing on five selected Grama Seva Niladhari divisions across the Batticaloa, Jaffna, Galle, and Kalutara districts.
The exercise will be conducted under UNESCO’s official guidelines and will involve the participation of various entities, including the Disaster Management Centre, Department of Meteorology, National Disaster Relief Services Centre, Ministries of Education and Health, as well as local government institutions, district and divisional secretariats, tri-forces, Police, schools, hotels, and residents. The Disaster Management Centre has reassured the public that this is solely a mock exercise and poses no actual threat.
The primary aim of IOWave 25 is to simulate a tsunami scenario triggered by a forecasted earthquake. Objectives include providing initial training for relevant public and private institutions, evaluating and strengthening the National Tsunami Early Warning System, validating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and raising awareness among the civil community and first responders.
Additionally, it has been announced that should a real tsunami occur during the exercise, the simulation will be halted immediately. In such a case, the Disaster Management Centre and the Department of Meteorology will issue official tsunami warnings following established procedures, ensuring the public is directed to safe locations promptly.