Srilanka, Nov. 5 -- All 77 tsunami early warning towers across Sri Lanka have been inactive for the past three years, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Director General Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda revealed yesterday. Speaking at a press briefing at the Government Information Department, Major General Kotuwegoda confirmed that each tsunami early warning tower constructed after the devastating 2004 tsunami cost Rs. 4 million. Despite the failure of the warning towers, the Director General assured that a formal backup plan is in place to issue evacuation messages in the event of a disaster. This system relies on mobile phones, landline phones and media broadcasts to reach the public.

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