Media Release  Bandula Kendaragama

Dear Newspaper Editor,
The opening of spillway gates at the Kotmale Dam and the resulting flooding of downstream settlements and urban areas, including Gampola, Weligalle, Gelioya, Peradeniya town, the University of Peradeniya, Botanical Gardens, Getambe Temple, Kandy courts complex etc., attracted international attention. The incident highlighted the necessity of examining dams-related flood events from multiple perspectives, particularly dam safety and operational decision-making, the effectiveness of the communication and early-warning systems, evacuation procedures for at-risk populations and livestock, and the protection of property and critical infrastructure.

The objective of this Media Release is to assess the limitations and importance of existing communication systems during dam emergencies and to explore options for improvement.
Yet, I am waiting to receive Dam Safety Emergency Management Plan (DSEMP) and the Evacuation Plan (EP) of the Kotmale Dam for a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of the existing procedures and communication protocols.

I was present at the Zoom discussion held on 30 December 2015, hosted by the Ministry of Science Technology. During the Zoom discussion, the Arthur C Clarke Centre made a statement that they could have produced the flooded areas in about 10 minutes from the satellite data. It appears that this invaluable information is not available to Mahaweli Authority and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). This calls for proper coordination of stakeholders to judge on a disaster. Shame!!! This showed unawareness of 21st century technology.

At the end of the presentation, it was unanimously agreed that a Zoom Workshop be held on 14 January 2026 with a wider stakeholder like Hon. K
Media Release on 01 January 2026

Who is the Culprit of November 2025 Floods due to Gate Opening?
Bandula Kendaragama (WhatsApp +61403204066)

D Lal Kantha (Minister Irrigation and Mahaweli), Director General (Irrigation) and his senior staff, Director General of the DMC and his senior staff, Regulator of the Telecommunications, GAs and AGAs senior staff, Dam Safety Heads of the CEB and Water Board, CTB Deport Managers in the potential inundation areas, School Principles of the large schools in the potential inundation areas, Heads of Buddhist, Catholic / Christian clergies in the potential inundation areas, Head Of Railways in Kandy etc,, The Author is in the view that the Governors of Central and Nuwara Eliya Districts, Director of Hospitals (Gampala, Peradeniya and Kandy), Head of the CEB, Kandy be invited for the Zoom Workshop to be held on 14 January 2014.
The Author is under the view that the Dam Safety Regulators Office be housed at the Presidential Secretariat or at the Office of the DMC.

I wish to would draw the attention of decision makers that the following actions be taken to strengthen dam safety governance and emergency preparedness in Sri Lanka.
1)
Those people / organisations of November 2025 floods should be investigated by a transparent mechanism, and not on political or emotional, partial rhetoric. The demand for a parliamentary standing committee inquiry may support such decision.
2)
Enhance existing communication systems by introducing satellite phones, long-range HF radio communication sets, and other independent communication technologies to ensure reliability during mobile network failures.
3)
Improve dam emergency notification systems through multiple dissemination methods, including voice sirens, Mobile Apps, SMS alerts, WhatsApp messages, Kotmale site vehicles, Police and hired on-road vehicles, and drones fitted with remotely controlled loudspeakers.
4)
Offer Dam Safety as a compulsory subject in all civil / mechanical / electrical power / electronic communication Engineering faculties of universities.

Media Release on 01 January 2026
Who is the Culprit of November 2025 Floods due to Gate Opening?
Bandula Kendaragama (WhatsApp +61403204066) Page 3 of 11

5)
Develop national dam safety guidelines under the leadership of the Sri Lanka National Committee on Large Dams (SLNCOLD), with the participation of experienced local and expatriate dam safety engineers.
6)
Establish a Central Dam Safety Unit at the Real-Time Monitoring Centre currently operating in Polgolla to serve as the national focal point for dam safety monitoring and emergency coordination.
7)
Engage the Legal Draftsman Office to prepare the legal framework—namely, a Dam Safety Bill—based on the national dam safety guidelines to be developed by the SLNCOLD.
8)
Present and debate the Dam Safety Bill in the Parliament, ensuring appropriate legislative and national accountability.
9)
Establish an independent Dam Safety Secretariat and appoint a Dam Safety Regulator. It is recommended that the Dam Safety Secretariat be located within the Presidential Secretariat to ensure independence, institutional authority, and effective inter-agency coordination.

The writer, Bandula Kendagagama, is a Specialist in Dam Safety, Instrumentation and Earthquakes living in Melbourne. The copy of the CV of the writer is attached. The Author can be contacted by email Bandula.Kendaragama@gmail.com and WhatsApp +61403204066.