Jan 24, Colombo: The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) of Sri Lanka said it will conduct a tsunami pre-warning test in coastal districts of the country today.

Assistant Director of the Disaster Management Centre, Pradeep Kodippili said the drill will be held at 3:00 p.m. local time in 8 coastal areas of the country.

Accordingly, the DMC will activate its tsunami early warning dissemination systems in one village of the 8 districts. The drill will be conducted in Egodauyana Colombo, lagoon in Kalutara, Mahroof town in Trincomalee, Pottuvil inAmpara, Ratgama inGalle, Marnkerni in Jaffna, Kirinda in Hambantota and Porutota in Gampaha districts.

The DMC, once a warning is received, will disseminate the message through Tsunami early warning system towers set up in the coastal belt and through other mass media including SMS messages.

Drills of this nature are expected to raise awareness in the public on how to react to an emergency situation such as a tsunami, the DMC official said.

The 2004 Boxing Day Indian Ocean tsunami devastated Sri Lanka killing over 35,000 people end rendering over 100,000 homeless.