Archive for Hambantota
January 9, 2008 at 7:38 pm · Categories: Batticaloa, Colombo, Disaster Management, English, Hambantota, Human Security, Jaffna, Media | by Chamath
The growing use of SMS for information dissemination was discussed earlier on Groundviews, and I would like to mention a recent development.
At least one government department has been pro active and is now making use of SMS for communication with media. The Media Centre for National Security obtained an application to send out SMS to journalists from a four-digit number. They started on Dec 5th, as far as I know.
What I hope now is that the Met Department, Disaster Management Center and other central authorities follow suit and send out quick SMS messages to reporters during an impending or occurring natural disaster. The message could also guide reporters towards a detailed announcement on a website.
It could be a short line …
December 13, 2007 at 3:08 pm · Categories: Batticaloa, Colombo, Disaster Management, English, Galle, Hambantota, Trincomalee | by Montage
Shanaka Amarasinghe
Nearly three years have passed since the devastation of Boxing Day 2004. Those three years should have sufficed for grief to transform into resolve, for shock to become measured response and for altruism to become tangible benefit. It is impossible to quantify, despite the diverse and often varied reports available, how much has been done, and by whom. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile considering the societal impact that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), and the good and/or evil that has been precipitated by their presence.
The aftermath of the tsunami saw a global outpouring of shock and dollars. The amount of tourists and expatriates affected in the South Asian region saw the world unite in its reaction to …
September 13, 2007 at 8:23 pm · Categories: Ampara, Batticaloa, Colombo, Disaster Management, English, Galle, Hambantota, Jaffna, Media, Trincomalee | by groundviews
Chamath Ariyadasa
The coverage by the media of yesterday’s earthquake near Indonesia might be of interest to some readers, and as the editor of JNW, Sri Lanka’s first SMS news agency, I thought of penning my personal opinion and raising some issues that could be discussed further.
My biggest concern at the moment, as a journalist, is getting access to the initial tip off from authorities on an impending disaster and the subsequent official news messages in a timely manner so that they can be passed on to the public as fast as possible.
There isn’t an email or SMS alert system in place, that I know of, that could easily meet this need. I know of the Met Dept website (http://www.meteo.slt.lk/Tswarn.html) …
September 12, 2007 at 6:45 pm · Categories: Ampara, Disaster Management, English, Galle, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kalutara, Puttlam, Trincomalee, Vavuniya | by groundviews
12 Sep 2007 12:31:03 GMT
Source: Reuters
COLOMBO, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka issued a tsunami alert on Wednesday for its north, south and eastern districts following a major earthquake in Indonesia, the National Disaster Management Centre said.
“We have issued a warning for the south, north and east after the quake,” Keerthi Ekanayake, an official at the centre told Reuters. Sri Lanka was battered by the 2004 tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean rim.
- Reuters story ends -
Update #1 (7.00pm): Read the alerts issued on JNW and also visit their site for updates.
Update #2 (7.15pm): Reuters news alert SMS thru Dialog says “Small tsunami hit Indonesia’s Padang, Sri Lanka expects small tsunami by 7.30 - Disaster Management Centre”
Update #3: (7.34pm): …
March 9, 2007 at 8:46 am · Categories: Anuradhapura, Colombo, English, Galle, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Mannar, Matale, Matara, Moneragala, Nuwara Eliya, Peace and Conflict, Pollonnaruwa | by Pradeep
The latest survey conducted by the Social Indicator, the survey research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives reveals that Sri Lankans express mixed opinion on the recent crossover by the 18 UNP parliamentarians along with 6 Muslim Congress MPs. 37% of people approve of this move while the same percentage disapproves. Interestingly, a quarter of Sri Lankans are either unaware of the crossover or do not have an opinion on whether to approve or disapprove of it; despite the chaos it has triggered in many corners that is yet to be settled.
In the wake of numerous interpretations and reinterpretation of the present political situation as a result of the recent crossover by the political elites, the authors of …
January 24, 2007 at 8:25 pm · Categories: Advocacy, Galle, Hambantota, Human Security, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, සිංහල | by Sunanda Deshapriya
Writing through shackles - Notes of a Citizen Journalist
I my column for Ravaya & Groundviews this week I explore the killing of a citizen, a priest, in Jaffna. The manner in which it which it was reported in the Sinhala media, and the occurrence of similar killings elsewhere in the country, I argue is indicative of the dire peril we are facing with regard to human rights and human dignity in Sri Lanka.
Read the full article here -Â The Death of a Priest
