Available Technology & Equipment Not Sufficient to Predict Correct Rainfall – Met. Director
Devasting rain has taken the people by surprise. Met department has failed to predict correct rainfall. This was transpired in the special meeting presided by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe in the Temple trees to guide Government Officials in providing accelerated relief to flood affected victims. At the meeting PM Ranil Wickramasinghe said, that in Kukuluganga areas disaster warning was issued only after the rainfall reached 150mm Met Department issued warning only after observing 500mm rainfall. Had warning was given to the people well in advance people could have prepared and moved from there thus reducing loss of lives recorded, Ranil said in no uncertain terms.
In the meantime, Met Department Director S.R. Jeyasekara said, that with the available technical facilities in the Department , period of rainfall cannot be correctly calculated.
With the available technical facilities met Department predicted 100mm rain fall on 25th and 26th in South West areas , however 553 mm rainfall had been recorded during the period of 24 hours commencing from 25th and ending at 8.30 am on 26th May 2017.
In such a situation , we could only predict rainfall over 150mm, he said.
However, on advise given by the President Maithripala Sirisena , cabinet has approved purchase of modern research and other necessary equipment for the Met. Dept. Very soon we will getting these equipment , he concluded.
