The government has launched an urgent operation to restore phone and internet networks crippled by days of severe weather, as millions struggle to contact loved ones trapped in flood-hit and landslide-affected areas.
Officials from the Presidential Secretariat, the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka met with major telecom operators on Saturday to map out immediate fixes. The meeting followed reports that transmission towers across the country had lost power or suffered structural damage, leading to major communication failures.
Authorities said the breakdown has left families unable to reach relatives in disaster zones, intensifying fear and uncertainty as rescue operations continue.
Under the new plan, telecom companies will work directly with the Ceylon Electricity Board to quickly supply generators or alternative power to towers without electricity. The government will also deploy transport and security support to send technical teams into affected areas to repair damaged infrastructure.
Operators agreed to prioritize emergency calls by managing network congestion during the crisis.
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne said the government would “fully intervene” to restore communication services as fast as possible.
Saturday’s meeting was attended by MP Dr. Najith Indika, TRCSL Director General Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Bandula Herath, senior government officials and representatives from Dialog, SLT-Mobitel, Hutch and Airtel. (Newswire)