Establishment of a Doppler Weather Radar at Puttalam

As an island nation situated in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka’s weather is influenced by vast surrounding sea areas, including the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the southern Indian Ocean. The country’s complex central terrain and proximity to the equator, which results in high solar energy absorption, further complicate weather prediction. These factors make rainfall forecasting particularly challenging. To address these challenges, a robust observation network is essential, and the installation of the new radar in Puttalam represents a significant leap forward in this regard.

Sri Lanka experiences more than 90% of its major disasters due to meteorological phenomena, with dozens of incidents occurring annually as a result of torrential rainfall. These rainfall events are often triggered by squall thunderstorms, depressions, and cyclones that form over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Consequently, floods and landslides have become increasingly common throughout the year. Recent observations and climate change projections indicate a rising trend in these hazardous events, making the need for accurate monitoring and forecasting more critical than ever.

The establishment of a Doppler Weather Radar Network in Sri Lanka aims to enhance the country’s capability for real-time rainfall monitoring, thereby contributing significantly to disaster preparedness against weather-related hazards. Initially, the project planned to install two C-Band Pulse Compression Solid State Dual Polarization Doppler Radar systems at Puttalam and Pottuvil. However, due to the economic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis with rising costs, it was decided in 2019 to focus on constructing a single radar station in Puttalam with full facilities, funded through a generous grant of 2,663 million JPY from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This state-of-the-art radar system will enable advanced quantitative precipitation measurement and nowcasting capabilities, playing a vital role in disaster preparedness. For the Department of Meteorology, it means being able to forecast rainfall amounts more accurately within hours of an expected event. This real-time data will significantly enhance the department’s ability to identify and forecast rapidly changing weather conditions, ultimately improving disaster mitigation and response.

The foundation stone for the Puttalam Doppler Radar Station building will be laid today (December 23rd) at the Meteorological Office in Puttalam with the participation of Mr. K.G. Dharmathilaka, Additional Secretary of the Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Defence, as the chief guest, and Mr. Naoki Kamoshida, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan and Mr. Tetsuya Yamada, Chief Representative, JICA Sri Lanka Office, as the special guests.