A Sri Lankan rights group has called on the government to provide official disaster announcements and statements in all three national languages, citing shortcomings during Cyclone Ditwah and the resulting floods.
Thanne Gnanananda thero, a member of the National Committee of the Equal Rights Movement, said the public was informed only in Sinhala and English during the disaster.
He added that successive governments have historically failed to issue official communications in Tamil during government activities.
The remarks followed the submission of a letter by the rights group to the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (15), urging that official disaster notifications and statements be issued in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.
The group said providing information in all national languages is crucial for ensuring that minority communities receive timely and accurate warnings during emergencies.