World Meteorological Day - 2025 Celebrated Under the Patronage of the
Deputy Minister of Defence
March 25, 2025
- World Meteorological Day is celebrated annually on 23 March and this year marks the 75th anniversary of the World Meteorological Organization.
This year's World Meteorological Day, celebrated under the theme "Closing the Early Warning Gap, Together" was held today (Mar 25) at the Metrological Department in Colombo under the patronage of the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).
The World Meteorological Organization was established on 23 March 1950 and World Meteorological Day is celebrated annually on that day. This day celebrates the essential contribution of meteorology to the well-being of humanity and the environment and it also helps to educate the public about the various disasters that occur due to weather and climate change.
Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) also attended the ceremony. Director General of the Department of Meteorology AK Karunanayaka received the dignitaries on their arrival at the venue.
Speaking at the event the Deputy Minister mentioned the importance of collective effort by the public and private sectors which will help to protect communities and ensure their long-term survival by building a stronger and more socially secure early warning system. The Department of Meteorology, which is at the forefront of this task in Sri Lanka, has been working with the World Meteorological Organization for more than 7 decades to provide the necessary facilities for more practical and efficient use of weather and climate-related services, he said.
Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe, Additional Secretary - Disaster Management K.G. Dharmathilaka, Director General of the Disaster Management Centre Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda (Retd), Director General of the National Building Research Organisation Dr. Asiri Karunawardena, Director General of the Irrigation Department Ajith Gunasekara, Director General and Director of the Planning Division of the Disaster Management Division, Chief Financial Officer of the Disaster Management Division, retired former Director Generals, Directors, Deputy Directors and Meteorologists from the Department of Meteorology and tri forces officers were also present at the occasion.
