INTERIM REPORT

Pilot Study on the Use of Telecommunications 
In Disaster and Emergency Situations in Sri Lanka

conducted by
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
in association with
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications and
ICO Global Communications

September 1998
 

CONTENTS  

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunications Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations (Finland, 1991) is the crowning glory of the modern international effort in emergency telecommunications. As part of its implementation, a pilot project is being conducted to study the use of emergency telecommunications in Sri Lanka. The pilot project is conducted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, in association with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications, and ICO Global Communications.

The pilot project surveys

• the nature of disasters in Sri Lanka
• the problems and constraints faced by emergency telecommunications,
• the existing disaster communication system in Sri Lanka, including the chain of command in emergency management and the relevant regulations and
• the present emergency telecommunication infrastructure, including the equipment and personnel available.

Modalities used for the study include written questionnaires, interviews with chiefly emergency disaster related institutions and telecommunications operators and reference material. The scope covered the aspects of telecom requirements in the event of disasters or emergencies at large, as well as specifically within the telecommunications sector. The report explores the background information on disasters and disaster telecommunications in Sri Lanka (including the identification of various constraints), the organizational structure of emergency telecommunications in Sri Lanka, and also the available emergency telecommunications equipment and personnel.

This Interim Report summarizes the information gathered so far for the use of the pilot project. Based on such information, four sets of recommendations – institutional, regulatory, technical and financial – are presented for consideration by the appropriate authorities.

Future activities of the project include holding of emergency telecommunication workshops and preparation for a final report both of which will address the concerns raised by the different parties dealing with disaster reliefs and communications.
 
 

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Overview on Emergency Telecommunications

Progress in modern telecommunications has contributed tremendously to the improvement of the quality of human life and to the heightening of economic performance, especially in a developing country such as Sri Lanka. On the other hand, disasters, be they cyclones, earthquakes or epidemics, to name but a few, sweep across artificial boundaries, often causing extensive loss of life and property damage. Unfortunately, during the earliest moments of a disaster, telecommunication links are frequently disrupted, despite the critical necessity to establish telecommunication links between the disaster-stricken area and the rest of the world, including the authorities, the relief organizations, the scientific community, and even the media.

Moreover, telecommunication has also proven itself to be a powerful and indispensable tool in both disaster prevention and mitigation. Telecommunication applications, from remote sensing and global positioning system (GPS) to the Internet and Global Mobile Personal Communications via Satellite (GMPCS), may be used in tracking approaching hazards, alerting authorities, warning affected populations, coordinating relief operations, assessing damages and motivating supports.

In view of the above, cooperation and coordination among the administrations, the aid organizations, the technical community, the service providers, and the general public is indispensable in deploying telecommunication resources for the prevention, mitigation and management of disasters.
 
 

1.2. Evolution of an International Framework on Emergency Telecommunications

The urgent need for an international approach to emergency telecommunications was perceived by a group of disaster communication experts attending the Conference on Disaster Communications in Tampere, Finland, in 1991. The Conference adopted the Tampere Declaration, calling for the reduction of regulatory barriers against emergency telecommunications resources and for the adoption of an international convention on emergency telecommunications.

In 1994, the first World Telecommunication Development Conference (Buenos Aires) adopted Resolution 7 on disaster communications (which annexes the Tampere Declaration), inviting national administrations to facilitate the rapid deployment and effective use of telecommunication equipment for disaster relief. The Resolution also invited the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to study the technical, operational and regulatory aspects of emergency telecommunications, as well as to help developing countries, especially the least developed countries, to improve their telecommunication resources to better respond to disasters.

Within the same year the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference also adopted its Resolution 36, endorsing the abovementioned Resolution 7. The two Resolutions 7 and 36 resulted in the formation of the Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications (WGET), maintained by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The WGET has since acted as the focal point for international efforts in emergency telecommunications. In addition WGET commenced the drafting of a convention on emergency telecommunications.

Both the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 1997) and the second World Telecommunication Development Conference (Valletta, 1998) called upon national administrations to give their full support to the adoption of the convention on emergency telecommunications.

From 16 to 18 June 1998, at the kind invitation of the Government of Finland, the Intergovernmental Conference on Emergency Telecommunications (ICET-98) was held in Tampere. During the Conference, Sri Lanka, which was represented by Professor Rohan Samarajiva, Director-General of Telecommunications, played a crucial role in chairing the ad hoc group formed to resolve the thorny issue of sovereignty. After due deliberations, 33 countries signed the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations. More countries will do the same at a special ceremony in the United Nations General Assembly in late 1998.

The Tampere Convention sets forth an international framework whereby the provision of telecommunication assistance for humanitarian actions may be carried out effectively. Within this framework, request and termination of telecommunication assistance, payments and reimbursements mechanisms, privileges and immunities, as well as dispute settlements are covered. OCHA is the Operational Coordinator under the Tampere Convention, and the ITU will assist OCHA in fulfilling the objectives of the Convention. Moreover, states will prepare telecommunication assistance information inventories detailing, among other items, points of contacts and terms of telecommunication assistance. In addition, many provisions of the Convention are also applicable to non-state entities such as international organizations and non-governmental organizations.
 
 

1.3. Motivation of the Pilot Project on Emergency Telecommunications in Sri Lanka

The idea for a pilot project studying the status of emergency telecommunications in Sri Lanka originated from discussions with the Commission, UN-OCHA, WGET and ICO Global Communications, held during the ICET-98. The eventual goal of the project is to foster the development and application of sophisticated telecommunications solutions in assisting emergency management in Sri Lanka. This is especially important to Sri Lanka whose people are no strangers to emergency situations.

It is also important to note that the support from the international community is as crucial for the implementation of the Tampere Convention as for its adoption. This pilot project is the first of its kind around the globe. As such, it may well become a benchmark for achieving optimal usage of communication resources during emergency circumstances. It also coincides with Action Item 7 of the draft Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Tampere Convention, under which WGET and its partners will lend their support for pilot projects studying applications of the Tampere Convention in different technical and regulatory environments.

As part of the pilot project, surveys were conducted among government agencies and non-governmental organizations engaging in disaster relief and among telecommunications service providers. An emergency telecommunications workshop addressing the concerns raised by this report is also planned for in November 1998. The pilot project is partially sponsored by ICO Global Communications, and also involves OCHA and WGET.

This interim report will summarize the information gathered so far for the use of the pilot project. The report explores the background information on disasters and disaster telecommunications in Sri Lanka (including the identification of various constraints), the organizational structure of emergency telecommunications in Sri Lanka, as well as the available emergency telecommunication equipment and personnel. Based on this information, tentative recommendations for improvement will be presented for consideration by the appropriate authorities.

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

2.1. Nature and Impact of Disasters

The types of disasters affecting Sri Lanka may be roughly divided into two categories – natural and man-made. An excellent chronological tabulation of these disasters over the past two decades, together with the number of deaths caused, the number of families affected and the relevant relief expenditures, may be found in "Post Disaster Activities of the Department of Social Services" by Pathirana and reproduced in this report as Appendix 1. Similar tabulations over the past half centuries may also be found in "Natural Hazards" by Tennakoon (pp. 25-28), reproduced as Appendix 2 to this report.

By far the most serious natural disasters in the 1980’s were floods, landslides and drought, followed by damages by elephants and other miscellaneous disasters. Since the early 1990’s, sea erosion, cyclones and problems with drinking water were also identified, although flood and drought have remained the costliest natural disasters. Floods, cyclones and winds usually accompany the southwest monsoon from May to September and the northeast monsoon from November to February.

On the other hand, the main man-made disaster faced by Sri Lanka is the chronic recurrence of bomb blasts, especially in the major towns, as well as the on-going armed conflicts which take place mainly in the northern part of the island. In 1996, for example, bomb blasts and accidents together accounted for more than six times the deaths caused by floods and cyclones.
 
 

2.2. Problems and Constraints Faced by Disaster Telecommunications

The surveys conducted so far revealed that the problems and constraints encountered by telecommunications during disasters, may be roughly divided into four categories – institutional, regulatory, technical, and financial. It is also worth noticing that many of the surveyees replied that they had not encountered disaster situations thus far.
 
 

2.2.1. Institutional Constraints

Some agencies surveyed so far indicated that successive persons-in-charge may have different awareness and hence priority for disaster prevention and mitigation generally and disaster telecommunications specifically. Others opined that a more comprehensive and clear-cut disaster management format is needed, for example one comprising three categories – 1. immediate actions; 2. long-term preparedness; 3. general disaster planning and policy. Yet others would like to see an organizational structure for disaster management in which the agencies involved are more responsible for their actions, with the agencies better equipped to deal with the situations, being more heavily relied upon. Greater inter-agency cooperation and coordination is also called for, for example in renting out of equipment among agencies for emergency relief.
 
 

2.2.2. Regulatory Constraints

Most agencies surveyed thus far found the lack of legislation and hence power in emergency management to be the major regulatory constraint. Many of them looked forward to the pending National Disaster Counter-Measures Act. Other agencies deplored the lack of clear-cut custom clearance procedures for transfer of telecom equipment during an emergency. In dissemination of public warning, delays may also be caused due to approval requirements from different authorities.

Licensed telecom operators surveyed so far found that the accessibility of disaster sites may be difficult mainly due to security concerns. As such, access is often worked out on a case-by-case basis. Others indicated that guidelines should be prepared concerning approval and clearance of telecommunications equipment, especially with respect to the emergency recovery of telecom infrastructure of licensed networks. To date, before a piece of telecommunication equipment brought into Sri Lanka is cleared for usage, the customs authority will refer the matter to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC), which, in some cases (as discussed below) has to forward it to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for approval. The process could be very lengthy, and thus may not be the most helpful in an emergency situation.

A closely associated problem is the heavy customs duties currently applicable to emergency/recovery shipments of telecommunications equipment brought into the country under disaster recovery contingency plans.

Some suggested the development of data circuit agreements between the licensing authority and the operators in case of emergency. Specifically, some operators opined that the regulatory authority should grant an operator "emergency rights" if the operator can restore service after a disaster. i.e. if the operator has the equipment, the technical know-how and the capacity and capability, even though there are licensing obstacles.
 
 

2.2.3. Technical Constraints

One of the most widespread concerns among agencies surveyed thus far is the limitation of resources for training and for retaining qualified telecom personnel. The availability of instruction material in only English is another problem. Besides, prioritisation for calls for agencies that may have to deal with disasters is almost non-existent.

The general fear among operators surveyed so far is that the general communications infrastructure may not be able to readily support the sudden surge in calls and re-tries in the wake of a disaster. It should be noted that this concern is not limited to Sri Lanka, but is rather a global one. In the aftermath of a major disaster, human emotional attachments dictate that people will call their loved ones who may have been near the disaster site. The 15% simultaneous usage threshold allowed for by network design of a telephone system will undoubtedly be exceeded, rendering it impossible for emergency relief personnel to use conventional telephones (both mobile and fixed-line) to contact each other.

Potential problems may also be encountered in accessing high elevation locations for radiocommunication, in frequency interference, in emergency transfers of data circuits through telecom exchanges, and in the availability of hotlines and radio links for disaster relief personnel. Others worried about the availability of telecom materials and equipment, such as cable loops in bulk quantities and pagers for staff contacts during an emergency.
 
 

2.2.4. Financial Constraints

Lack of funding for emergency management generally and for emergency telecommunications particularly is one of the chief concerns of agencies surveyed thus far. As indicated above, different management parties may allocate different amounts to disaster telecommunications and as such continuity and integrity of emergency services may be compromised.

Several operators surveyed so far identified financing as one of the main obstacles in emergency telecommunications although they did not elaborate on this issue.
 
 

2.3. Existing National Regulation

2.3.1. Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC) was founded in 1996 under the Sri Lanka Telecommunications (Amendment) Act No. 27 of 1996. The powers and duties of the TRC include recommending to the Minister the grant of licences to telecom operators, supervision of the licences, type approval and spectrum management.
 
 

2.3.2. Licences

In a licence issued to a telecom operator, there are three emergency telecommunications-related conditions, which must be met.

The first of these conditions mandates the operator to provide public emergency call service to emergency organizations for the purpose of notifying the latter of an emergency.

The second condition provides that the operator shall, after consulting with relevant agencies, make plans for the provision and rapid restorations of telecommunication services during public emergencies.

The third condition stipulates that the operator shall provide emergency organizations with priority fault repair service with a view to restoring those services as swiftly as practicable.

The enforcement mechanism for these conditions in licences is spelled out by the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act, No. 25 of 1991. Under the Act, the TRC may "make an order for the purpose of securing compliance with a licensing condition". The TRC further has other control measures, including license renewals, approval of tariff revisions, approval of new base stations, and frequency allocations, which may prove effective in eliciting compliance with the TRC’s emergency telecommunications conditions.
 
 

2.3.3. Type Approval

The type approval process for equipment brought into Sri Lanka may best be represented by the flow chart in Appendix 3.

At present, the TRC has sole authority in recommending the approval of telephones, facsimile machines, modems and PABXs. Due to security concerns, clearance must be obtained from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) before radio equipment and cellular phones will be approved.
 
 

2.4. Availability of Contingency Plans

Half of the agencies surveyed so far prepared disaster management plans, while some others claimed they were in the process of preparing the plans.

The majority of operators who have answered so far have stated that they had disaster management plans (some more comprehensive than others). These operators also claimed that their employees are well aware of the plans.

Some of the emergency plans prepared by operators include features such as:

1. Redundancy for transmission routes and spares for vital equipment;
2. Separate subscriber management centre located at a remote place and running concurrently with existing centre;
3. Emergency dedicated phone line;
4. Using paging system to disseminate disaster warning;
5. For cellular services, using the GHz bands for Microwave links between base station. These frequencies are less congested.
6. Deployment of microwave links and base stations to disaster stricken areas;
7. Rapid upgrading of base stations after a disaster

3. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

3.1. State Agencies Involved in Disaster Relief

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is the primary agency entrusted with the implementation of activities pertaining to post-disaster relief and rehabilitation work in respect of natural disasters. It is also the nodal agency for coordinating relief activities and the agency responsible for communicating with other relief agencies. Its responsibilities include evacuation of victims, provision of foodstuffs, rehabilitation and resettlement as well as assessment of damages and payment of compensation. The pre-disaster activity of DSS is limited to conducting public awareness campaigns. The Department is closely assisted by many other state agencies such as the armed forces, the National Hospitals, the National Building Research Organization (NBRO), the Land Survey Department, the Meteorological Department, Sri Lanka Rupavahani (the national TV corporation), and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (the national radio corporation).

For man-made disasters such as bomb blasts, MOD usually assumes responsibility in relief activities. MOD is closely aided by the armed services, the Police and the Fire Services Department, and obtains the help of DSS.

It is worthy of mention that half the agencies surveyed so far indicated they had to deal with both natural and man-made disasters.
 
 

3.2. Non-Governmental Organizations Involved in Disaster Relief

There is a number of NGOs, which are involved in disaster relief activities. The Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are engaged in mitigating natural disasters. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), on the other hand, focuses exclusively in mitigating man-made disasters. Besides, World Vision and CARE are involved in relieving natural and man-made disasters.
 
 

3.3. Chain of Command during Relief Operations

The disaster policy at a national level is decided by the central government through the Ministry of Social Services and implemented by DSS. The grassroot level NGOs and the Grama Niladaries (local government agents) constitute the first line of aid to the victims. The Grama Niladaries report first to the Divisional Secretary and then to the District Secretary, who will then prepare a detailed report on the disaster to the DSS, which then issues both directives and funds and coordinates with national and international NGOs. A flow chart detailing the chain of command in natural disaster relief activities prepared by Pathirana in ("Post Disaster Activities of the Department of Social Sciences" at pp. 28-5) is reproduced as Appendix 4 to this report.

For security reasons, the chain of command in man-made disaster relief was not made available to this study. However, a make-shift coordination scheme involving the MOD, the armed services, the Police, the Fire Services Department, the National Hospitals, the Sri Lanka Red Cross and the general public usually takes place in the aftermath of a man-made disaster.
 
 

3.4. Information Flows among Institutions Involved in Disaster Relief

The flowchart reproduced from Pathirana above also provides a good picture on the information flow among the various agencies involving in disaster relief.
 
 

3.5. Public Dissemination of Disaster Information

The Meteorological Department and the National Hospitals provide relevant weather and casualties information to all radio stations, the TV stations and the press regularly during and after a major disaster. Due to the scarcity of telecommunication facilities in the more remote areas, the passing of word of mouth is also a prevalent form of communication.
 
 

3.6. Calls Prioritization during Disasters

Only two of the fourteen agencies surveyed so far (the Fire Services Department and the Airport Division) are equipped with telephone lines for contact on priority basis in a disaster situation.

In addition, less than half of the telecom operators surveyed thus far give priority to calls for emergency wants in disaster areas. They utilize various criteria in identifying whom to give priority to. Police, hospitals and fire brigades are almost invariably accorded with priority. Some operators take into consideration the extent of the disasters, national security, VIP status of the user, "mission-critical customer circuits," even "image" of the institutional user! Some other operators are more creative in this respect. One operator tried publishing a "hotline" number in the media for public to call so that affected customers may be distinguished from unaffected ones at the operators end. Another operator offered "operator assisted paging," whereby the paging operators had been instructed to give priority response to disaster related calls. Some paging service also offered a "common secondary cap code" whereby subscribers could be warned off dangers.
 
 

3.7. Mechanisms for Financing Emergency Telecommunications

For the agencies surveyed so far the main funding comes, unsurprisingly, from government appropriations supplemented by private donations. As such, the funding is subject to the unpredictability of changes in priority and focus as discussed above. Only one-third of the agencies surveyed so far have financial provisions to meet the costs of communications. It should also be noted that both DSS and NDMC (discussed at paragraph 3.8 below) stated they had dedicated funds that may be drawn upon if unexpected surge in costs is encountered due to the onset of major disasters.

The NGOs, which rely more heavily on the private sector for its funding, are usually more active in fundraising activities.

There appears to be no established system of payments and reimbursements for use of telecommunication resources during and after a disaster. Rather, arrangement among agencies, if any, is usually on an ad hoc basis.
 
 

3.8. The Sri Lanka Disaster Counter-Measures Act

In 1991 a Cabinet Sub-Committee was appointed to prepare a national disaster mitigation plan. Pursuant to the report of the Sub-Committee, a National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) was established in July 1996. NDMC proposed the Sri Lanka Disaster Counter-Measures Act, which is currently under review by the Parliament. The proposed Act provides for the establishment of the following institutions:

1. The National Council for Disaster Management - to forth set the policies underlying the national disaster management plan and direct other disaster management plans;
2. The National Disaster Management Centre - to implement the various disaster management plans;
3. The Technical Advisory Group - to assist in the preparation of the national disaster management plan;
4. The Vigilance Groups - who will be spread around the country to monitor disaster signals.

The proposed institutional framework for national disaster management after the adoption of the Act is reproduced from Fernando (p. 26-3) as Appendix 5 to this report. Under the proposed framework, the Vigilance Group will be the first line of defence in disaster detection. They may interact with the victims, the NDMC, the Provincial, District, Divisional and Village Level Committees, the Technical Advisory Group and even with the National Council.

The National Council will be the disaster policy setting body, while the NDMC will be the national coordinating body with powers ranging from prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response, to recovery of disasters.

4. EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL

4.1. Types of Equipment/Personnel

For a country of 18.5 million population, Sri Lanka has 450,000 fixed telephone lines and 150,000 cellular phones. These translate to teledensities of 2.5% and 0.8% respectively.

Referring to Appendix 6, it may be noticed that all the agencies surveyed so far are connected with phones and faxes. However, most of them are not equipped with cellular phones. Many of the agencies, such as the MOD, the Airport Division, the Meteorological Department and the Fire Services Department also operate UHF and/or VHF links. Unfortunately, the National Hospital and Sri Lanka Red Cross ambulances are not equipped with any radio. The ambulances run by the Police, the Army and the Fire Services Department are equipped with VHF radios.

The Fire Services Department has a mobile Incident Response Unit which is equipped with one VHF base station, one two-way aeronautical band radio, and two cellular phones. In addition, The National Hospital has a paging network in the Colombo area for its doctors and a PABX linking all the government hospitals in Colombo. The National Hospital is also experimenting on telemedicine featuring remote observation and consultation for a surgery in Colombo by physicians in Singapore.

Of the telecom operators surveyed so far, about two-third claims that their telecom systems are "ready" for different types of disasters ranging from cyclones to floods and landslides to fire. (Ref. Appendix 7).

A commercial provider is also proposing a city-wide alarm system whereby danger signals issued by subscribers’ premises, such as fire and security alarms as well as indications of sewerage overflow, will be transmitted to the appropriate authorities via a central monitoring station which also conveyed responses back along the same system.
 
 

4.2. Locations and Availability of Equipment/Personnel for Disaster Relief

Most of the equipment is located on the site of the agency concerned, or, in the case of mobile VHF and UHF links, in the vehicles or with the authorized personnel of the agencies. Usually only one person within a unit is authorized to use the equipment, for safety, security and economic reasons.

For equipment requiring more skilled training such as avionics, the availability of trained personnel is usually barely enough, and are subject to the training and retaining problems.
 
 

4.3. Awareness of Equipment/Personnel

Based on the surveys carried out so far, awareness among agencies is poor as to the types, availability and locations of telecommunication equipment and personnel of other agencies.
 
 

4.4. Deployment of Equipment/Personnel during Disasters

Since the agencies surveyed so far rely heavily on fixed-line communication such as phone and fax, mobility is not a primary concern. For those agencies with VHF radios and cellular phones, the equipment usually travels with the associated personnel, and is subject to road conditions, traffic jams, weather, armed conflicts, etc.

As shown in Appendix 7, two-third of the operators surveyed so far reported that they had a disaster-kit ready to be moved to a disaster site and had a disaster recovery plan in respect of a damaged portion of their network.
 
 

4.5. Use of Equipment/Personnel

4.5.1. Contact with International Relief Organizations

Telephones and faxes are heavily used in getting in touch with international organizations and other NGOs, and hence are extremely vulnerable at times of disaster.
 
 

4.5.2. Coordination with Relief Agencies

Coordination among the agencies is again usually handled by fixed-line telephones and faxes.
 
 

4.5.3. On-site Communications

This section is currently not available, to be added shortly.

4.6.  Familiarity with and Information on Use of Equipment

This section is currently not available, to be added shortly.

4.7. Requirements of Equipment

The spectrum allocation for mobile services in Sri Lanka is in the 800-950 MHz band. The cellular modes include AMPS, TACS (A and B) and digital GSM.

Due to security concern, the power supply (e.g. battery capacity) for telecommunication equipment is subject to a cap by the MOD.
 
 

4.8. Training and Instructions Available to Disaster Telecommunications Personnel

Sri Lanka Telecom operates two national-level telecom-training centres at Walisara and Moratuwa with subjects ranging from switching to power and transmission. There are also two regional training centres located in Peradeniya and Anuradhapura that provide general telecom training.
 
 

5. RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations are made below for the improvement of the current emergency telecommunication system in Sri Lanka based on the information collected so far for this project. These recommendations are set out in four categories: institutional, regulatory, technical, and financial. These are subject to change in the final report, as per more information that will be gathered and analyzed.
 
 

5.1. Institutional Recommendations

5.2. Regulatory Recommendations

5.3. Technical Recommendations

5.4. Financial Recommendations

6. CONCLUSION

The present pilot project represents a significant step in comprehensively addressing the use of telecommunication resources in alleviating human sufferings caused by natural and manmade disasters. The study surveys the background information on emergency telecommunications in Sri Lanka, including identification of some of the problems and constraints in the current environment. The organizational structure and the equipment/personnel available are also explored, leading to four sets of recommendations for improvement of emergency telecommunications capabilities in Sri Lanka.

Appendices 5 and 6 tabulate the contact points, the available emergency telecommunication equipment and other relevant information of the agencies and the operators in Sri Lanka who were interviewed so far. If Sri Lanka does sign and ratify the Tampere Convention, these tables can serve as the starting points of Sri Lanka’s telecommunication assistance information inventory as required by the Convention.

It is important to emphasize the interim nature of the present report. Future work in the project include interviews with more agencies and telecom operators to gain a more holistic picture of the emergency telecommunication situation, so that the final report will address most, if not all, the concerns raised. This report will also serve as the basis for a national workshop to increase awareness among the stockholders and to strengthen coordination between the Commission and the relevant agencies.

Finally, it is also critical to realize the fact that emergency telecommunications activities must be on-going and not once-and-for-all. Disasters may strike at any time of the day, any day of the year, and however many times. On the other hand, telecommunications technologies evolve over time. The fanciest piece of equipment today may not shed the same light five years into the future. Therefore, only constant alertness, coupled with diligent lookout for practical telecommunication technology, may lead to the best means of emergency telecommunications.
 
 

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka gladly acknowledges the valuable assistance offered to this project by the organizations and individuals listed in Appendix 9.
 

Appendix 1

OCCURRENCE OF DISASTERS IN SRI LANKA, 1981-1996
 

Reproduced from "Post Disaster Activities of the Department of Social Services" by Pathirana, pp. 28-3 – 28-4. Source: Department of Social Services (1998).

Appendix 2

OCCURRENCE OF DISASTERS IN SRI LANKA, 1947-1980
 

Reproduced from "Natural Hazards" by Tennakoon, pp. 25-28. Source: Department of Social Services (1984).
 
 
 

Appendix 3

TYPE APPROVAL PROCESS

[Source: "Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka]
 
 
 

Appendix 4

CHAIN OF COMMAND IN DISASTER RELIEF ACTIVITES IN

RESPECT OF NATURAL DISASTERS

[Source: "Post Disaster Activities of the Department of Social Services" by Pathirana N.J.(1998) p.28-5]
 
 
 

Appendix 5

PROPOSED INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR

NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT
 
 





[Source: "Plan for Disaster Management" by Fernando W.B.J. (1998), p 26-3]
 
 
 

Appendix 6

SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRE BY EMERGENCY RELATED INSTITUTIONS
 

Q1.Basic Information: I.Name of Institution II. Telephone Number III.Facsimile Number IV. Contact person
Q2.Telecommunication technologies & equipment currently used
Q3. Skilled staff to operate the equipment.
Q4. Types of emergency situations the Institution deals with
Q5.Availability of a formal emergency action plan
Q6. Telephone line to contact in a disaster
Q7. Financial provisions to meet the costs of communication
 

APPENDIX 7

SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRE BY LICENCED TELECOM OPERATORS
 

SURVEY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS

Questions :

1. Basic information - I. Name and Address of Institution II. Telephone Number III. Fascimile No IV. Contact Person

2. Do you have a disaster management plan?

3. Is your telecom system ready for cyclones, floods, land slides, bomb blasts, fire etc...

4. In the event of a component of your system failing due to disaster, do you have any disaster-recovery plans?

5. Do you have a "disaster-kit" ready to be moved to a disaster site (your own network or a general site)?

6. Can you give priority to calls for emergency wants in disaster areas?

7. Have you provided any emergency telecom services that may be used in emergency situations?
 

APPENDIX 8

REFERENCE MATERIAL
 
 

ABEYKOON, A. W. W. (1998)

CARTER, W. N. (1991)

CANUTEC (1992)

CENTRAL ENVIRONMENT AUTHORITY OF SRI LANKA (1991)

CHIEF, CHARLES KERPELMEN (1990)

DEWUNDEGE, P. (1993)

"A simple Technique for the Evaluation of Weather Forecast", Vidurava, Vol. 15, Nov. 1, 1993, pp. 26 – 29 (Colombo: Natural Resources, Energy and Science Agency).

DAHANAYAKE, K. (1998)

"Living with Land Slides" (Colombo: National Disaster Management Centre).

DAILY NEWS (1998)

DE SILVA, S. T. G. R. (1996)

DE SILVA, S. T. G. R. (1997)

EDWARDS, T. (1992/93)

FERNANDO, W.B.J. (1998)

FERNANDO, W.B.J. (1998)

HARBI, M. (1998)

INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (1998)

KATUPOTHA, J. (1993)

Madduma Bandara, C .M. (1986)

MATTINGLY, J. G. R. (1998)

MINISTRY OF POLICY PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION, et al. (1993)

MINISTRY OF POSTS & TELECOMMUNICATIONS (1997)

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SERVICES (1997)

MOHOTTALA, A.W. (1993)

NATIONAL BUILDING RESEARCH ORGANIZATION (1998)

NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON LAND SLIDES IN SRI LANKA (1994)

NATIONAL RESOURCE ENERGY & SCIENCE AUTHORITY OF SRI LANKA (1993)

PATHIRANA, N. J. (1998)

SRI LANKA FOUNDATION INSTITUTE (1980)

SUNDAY TIMES (1998)

SUNDAY LEADER (1998)

TARJANNE, P.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA (1998)

TENNAKOON, M. U. A. (1986)

Natural Hazard Research - An Overview (Colombo: Central Bank of Sri Lanka).

TENNAKOON, M. U. A. (1984)

TOOPS, JON (1987)

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION (1997)

WICKRAMARATHNA, S. N. (1990)

WICKRAMASINGHE R.H. (1993)

WROBEL LEO A (LEO ANTHONY) (1990)

Disaster Recovery Planning for Telecommunications, pp. 33-42, 81-84 (Norwood, MA: Artech House).
 
 
 

 
 Appendix 9

LIST OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Emergency related Governmental & Non-Governmental Organizations

1. Airport Aviation Services Ltd.
2. Centre for Housing Planning and Building
3. Department of Fire Service
4. Department of Meteorological Services
5. Department of Social Services
6. District Secretariat, Kaluthara
7. International Committee of the Red Cross
8. International Telecommunication Union
9. Ministry of Defence
10. .Ministry of Public Administration
11. .National Building Research Organization
12. .National Disaster Management Centre, Ministry of Social Services
13. .Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
14. .Sri Lanka National Hospital Colombo
15. .Sri Lanka Red Cross
16. .Sri Lanka Rupavahani Corporation
17. .United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
18. .Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications

Telecommunications Operators

1. Celltel Lanka Ltd.
2. Dynacom Engineering Pte. Ltd.
3. Electroteks (Pvt) Ltd.
4. ICO Global Communications (Operations) Ltd.
5. Intercity Paging Services (Pvt.) Ltd.
6. ITMIN Ltd.
7. Lanka Bell (Pvt.) Ltd.
8. Lanka Communication Services (Pvt.) Ltd.
9. Lanka Internet Services Ltd.
10. .Lanka Payphones Ltd.
11. .MTT Network (Pvt.) Ltd.
12. .Societé Internationale des Telecommunications Aeronautiques (SITA)
13. .Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd.
14. .Suntel (Pvt.) Ltd.
15. .The Payphone Co. (Pvt) Ltd.

TRC Pilot Study Team

1. Mr. Saman AbeyasekaraEngineer/Spectrum Management
2. Mrs. Nayani KarunajeewaAssistant Director/International Relations
3. Mr. Ei Sun Oh UN Expert; Scientific and Legal Consultant, Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications
4. Mr. Kolitha RanawakaAssistant Director/Media Relations
5. Mr. Jagath RatnayakeAssistant Director/Policy