The Ministries of Local Government and Provincial Councils and the Disaster Management and Human Rights are in the final stage of the implementation of upgrading the disaster response network of 18 local authorities and establishment of a Tsunami Early Warning System under Phase-I of the project, Daily News reported.

Rabobank of the Netherlands has provided a loan facility of Euro 41.4 million for the project's Phase-I which Euro 10.6 million was financed out of a Dutch Government Grant Facility.

Phase-II is an extension of the project and involves the upgrading of 18 fire stations established in Phase-I with additional equipment, establishing two fire stations in Trincomalee and Chilaw, erecting 25 early warning towers, setting up communication system and providing vehicles and equipment, establishing 15 District Disaster Management Co-ordinating Units and construction of a Disaster Management Co-ordination and Operation Centre in Colombo.

The loan agreement for financing the project and the agreements were signed at the Finance and Planning Ministry yesterday, (Dec. 17).