Former MP Udaya Gammanpila has questioned the continued use of sirens to alert residents during the opening of the Kotmale Reservoir spill gates, arguing that modern communication tools such as SMS alerts and social media should have been used instead.

Speaking at a media briefing held on 10 December, Gammanpila said that relying solely on sirens is an outdated method, especially during heavy rainfall, when the sound may not travel effectively or provide sufficient time for residents to respond.

He claimed that the authorities could calculate the approximate time it would take for the reservoir to fill, based on the inflow rate, and determine hours in advance when the gates would need to be opened. According to him, this would allow officials to issue timely warnings through more reliable digital channels.

“Siren use is more than 100 years old. During heavy rain, people may not hear it, and even if they do, ten minutes is not enough to take action. With today’s technology, officials can estimate when the reservoir will reach full capacity and when the gates must be opened, well in advance,” he said.

Gammanpila further alleged that the President had not questioned officials on why modern communication methods were not used. He suggested that the authorities could have sent text messages, used loudspeakers, or shared warnings via WhatsApp groups or other social media platforms targeting vulnerable areas.

“These are the questions the President should have asked. Unfortunately, we did not see such accountability,” he added.