Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, stated that telephone and internet communication networks disrupted by the recent disaster are expected to be fully restored by Thursday.
He noted that the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, and all telecom service providers are working tirelessly to bring services back to normal.
The Deputy Minister further explained:
“Landslides and floods disrupted provincial fibre connectivity in 11 locations. With direct intervention from the Ministry, we were able to restore services in nine locations within 24 hours. Currently, all provincial connections are operational, and continuity of telecommunication services has been ensured. Routing of affected intermediate locations is being managed through alternative fibre paths.
Over 4,000 major transmission towers were rendered inoperative due to power outages and fibre disruptions caused by floods and landslides. Approximately 2,800 towers have now been restored, while the remaining 949 are still inactive, mainly due to ongoing power outages. Telecom providers are working closely with authorities to restore full functionality as soon as possible.
To expedite repairs and provide necessary electrical support, the Tri-Forces are providing maximum assistance. Following the disaster on November 28, the public faced difficulties accessing mobile networks, and the necessary technology was developed to enable SMS capabilities. However, with the restoration of a significant portion of fibre connections by November 29, this measure was no longer required.
Currently, connectivity issues remain mainly in the Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Puttalam, and Vavuniya districts, with Nuwara Eliya and Kandy being the hardest hit. By tomorrow morning, connectivity in Nuwara Eliya and Puttalam is expected to be restored to more than 75%, while restoration work in Kandy is targeted to increase from 65% to approximately 70%.
“Communication is essential for keeping the public informed and connected to their loved ones. Over 80% of the disruptions have already been resolved, and we are confident that complete restoration will be achieved by the day after tomorrow,” the Deputy Minister affirmed.
