Safeguarding livelihoods through the tri-lingual Sayuru early warning and alert service

Colombo: Sri Lanka as an island nation has a considerable segment of a coastal population whose livelihoods are based on day-boat fishing. The majority of such fishermen have access to little or no technology, with few possessing basic mobile phones, and face a significant issue in that their general safety and ability to earn an income are both highly dependent on the prevailing weather and sea conditions. Their main sources of information on weather patterns are national television, radio news bulletins and through word-of-mouth from the local fisheries harbour masters themselves.

With the majority of such information not easily accessible to such fishermen, and they are at great risk to adverse weather conditions, which can pose a significant threat to their safety and wellbeing. Access to accurate, timely information can therefore play a big role in dictating how well the fishermen can improve their trade and ensure their own safety.

Having been aware of the increasingly volatile weather caused by worsening climate change and based on the notion that fishermen have access to basic mobile phones, Dialog partnered with the Department of Fisheries and the Meteorological Department of the Government of Sri Lanka to develop and release the tri-lingual ‘Sayuru’ alert service with the goal of reducing the loss of life and marooning caused by unexpected extreme weather. The free service is accessible by using the short code 828, texting ‘ACT’ to ‘828’ or activating the service via the MyDialog App. Sayuru provides daily 24-hour weather forecasts by SMS, and emergency voice calls in hazardous situations, all customised to the language and coastal region specified by the user.

Sayuru TV, already operating at the country’s major fisheries harbours, is an extension of the ‘Sayuru’ service and further enhances fishermen’s safety by providing greater accessibility to the timely and accurate weather forecasts and emergency alerts. The initiative displays 24-hour weather forecasts in all three local languages in a relatable and easy to follow style for any local fisherman.
Controlled remotely by the main Fisheries Department Operations Centre, the displays can flash instant alerts in the event of an emergency, as directed per location. The first Sayuru TV installation was launched at the Tangalle fisheries harbour in February 2020, followed by six other locations along the coastline, and most recently, this 8th installation at Point Pedro. Together with its partners, Dialog aims to expand the Sayuru TV service to include an information display at every port around the island.

As Sri Lanka recovers from the peak of the ongoing pandemic, empowering key stakeholders that form the crux of the nation’s communities, and thereby economies, is of utmost importance. Through Sayuru TV and the Sayuru mobile service, Dialog has the unique ability to significantly improve the livelihoods of day-boat fishermen, all while securing their health and safety.