Two decades ago, on 26 December 2004, Sri Lanka was struck by a devastating tsunami that left death, destruction, and heartbreak in its wake. The Tsunami, which registered a magnitude of 9.1, struck off the coast of Sumatra Island, Indonesia on a Sunday morning. About 20 minutes after the shock, Indonesia’s Province of Banda Aceh, which was closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, was devastated by massive 100-foot waves, claiming the lives of more than 100,000. A series of turbulent waves then ravaged the coasts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, the Maldives, Myanmar, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In all, deaths from the disaster mounted to over 230,000 in a matter of hours. Sri Lanka was one of the hardest-hit countries, with over 40,000 fatalities and property damage worth several million rupees. Thousands were left homeless as waves pushed debris several kilometres inland, pounding buildings into rubble.
As we approach the 20th anniversary of this catastrophe, it is essential to reflect on what has been done, and more importantly, what more needs to be done. While various programmes are organised each year to commemorate the tsunami, the lingering pain of survivors and various forms of failures in disaster preparedness suggest that much more remains to be done. The lessons we should have learned seem to have been reduced to a two-minute silence each year, while many families still await closure.
Last year, it was reported that the remains of 137 unidentified victims of the tsunami still sit in the Forensic Medicine Department in Karapitiya, Galle. These individuals, who died in one of Sri Lanka's most tragic events, have not received the dignity of identification and proper last rites. For two decades, their families have been left without closure. These bodies remain symbols of successive governments’ failure to bring closure to this two-decade-old tragedy. This is not merely a matter of logistics – it is a failure of empathy and responsibility, and the lack of interest in treating the deceased with dignity.
Beyond the human cost of the tsunami disaster, another critical issue that is yet to be addressed is the country’s preparedness for future disasters. After the 2004 tsunami, Sri Lanka established a tsunami warning system to prevent such a catastrophe from striking without warning again. However, reports indicate that many of these systems remain dysfunctional. The Sunday Morning recently reported that, according to the National Audit Office, the Government has paid millions of rupees for the upkeep of tsunami-warning towers, yet many of these towers are either inactive or in disrepair. It was further reported that a private company has been paid Rs. 90 million since 2016 to maintain 77 tsunami-warning towers, but the majority of these are no longer operational. This gross mismanagement calls into question the country’s preparedness for future natural disasters, when in reality, many tsunami-hit countries have learned from the tragedy and have taken effective measures to prevent the loss of lives and properties in another tsunami. Sri Lanka’s failure to maintain these vital systems not only undermines public trust, but also endangers the lives of Sri Lankans. How can the country claim to be prepared for future tragedies when the very systems designed to save lives are left to deteriorate? If millions of rupees have been allocated for maintenance, how is it that these towers remain broken? This failure shows the systemic issues that plague the management of public funds and disaster preparedness in Sri Lanka. While there have been suggestions and ‘plans’ of modernisation over the years, few have taken off the ground.
As the country remembers the lives lost and the survivors who continue to struggle, it is essential that the present Government led by the National People’s Power focuses on accountability. It must address the dysfunctionality of the tsunami-warning systems, investigate the mismanagement of funds, and take concrete steps to restore the country’s preparedness for future disasters. The Government has pledged to ensure the responsible use of public funds, and in that context, the Government cannot ignore these concerns which demand immediate attention. The failures of the past should serve as a reminder for change, not as a legacy of inaction. At the same time, the need for closure, for both the deceased and their families, cannot be overlooked. Those who lost loved ones deserve to know what happened to them. The living too deserve safety, security, and the assurance that the Government has learned from the mistakes of the past. The current state of disaster preparedness is not just a technical problem – it is more of a matter of national responsibility.
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, it is time to go beyond symbolic gestures. We must take concrete and genuine action to ensure that no one else suffers the same fate, and that is the best form of respect that can be paid to the victims of the tsunami.