Met. Dept. will be taken to task: Minister

A probe to determine any shortcomings that may have taken place had already begun

Action would be taken against those responsible in the Meteorological Department if it was proven that there had been any shortcomings with regard to informing the fishermen on stormy weather, Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday.

Mr. Amaraweera told Daily Mirror that a probe to determine any shortcomings that may have taken place on sending the warning to fishermen had already begun and a report would be submitted to President Mahinda Rajapaksa tomorrow.

He said the decision to conduct an investigation was made in a discussion he had over the phone with President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Minister Amaraweera said President Rajapaksa contacted him over the phone to enquire about the situation.

The Minister said he had suggested to the President to have an investigation initiated to determine whether there was any shortcoming when disseminating the message to the fishermen.

“I thought that an investigation was a necessity as the general

The general public, in particularly the fishermen had come up with an allegation that they were not informed of any adverse weather conditions

public, in particularly the fishermen had come up with an allegation that they were not informed of any adverse weather conditions, while the Met. Department officials said they had done their part,” he said.

The Minister assured tough action against the Department officials if it was proven that there had been any shortcoming on their part. “I don’t intend to defend the Met. Department just because it comes under the purview of my Ministry,” he added.