AUBOWANAUBOWAN

SRI LANKA AND ITS DISASTER
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIESDEPARTMENT OF SOCIALSERVICESMINISTERY OF SOCIALSERVICESNIMAL HETTIARACHCHI1SRI LANKA IS AN ISLANDz LOCATIONINDIAN OCEANINDIAN SUB CONTINENTLATITUDES 5.55-9.55 N
LONGITUDES 79.42-81.52 E
LAND AREA: 65,610 SQKM

LENGTH: 445 KM

BREADTH: 225 KM

2CLIMATE IN SRI LANKA
LOW LAND TYPICALLY TROPICALHIGHER ELEVATION QUITE COOL
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 28-30 C
HIGHER ELEVATION 8-14 C
MAIN RAIN SOURCES
SOUTH WEST MONSOON – MAY-SEPNORTH EAST MONSOON - NOV.-JAN.
INTERMEDIATE MONSOON – APRIL,OCT.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY VARIES 70% DURING THE DAY TO
90% AT NIGHTHistory

2000 YEARS HERITAGE
BUDDHISM INTRODUCED IN 243 B.C
ANCIENT CITIESCITIESANURADAPURA,POLONNARUWA,SEGIRIYA,KANDYPORTUGUESE,DUTCH & BRITISH INVADED THE ISLANDWON BACK INDEPENDENCE IN 19483DEMOGRAPHY
TOTAL POPULATION- 18.7 MILLION(1999)

DENSITY- PERSONS PER SQKM 299

URBAN POPULATION- 22%

RURAL POPULATION- 78%

ANNUAL GROTH RATE - 1.2%
LIFE EXPECTANCY- MALE 70 YEARSFEMALE 72 YEARS

Ethnic communities & religions
Ethnic distribution
Singhalese - 74%
Tamil- 18.3%
Muslim
- 7.6%
Others- 0.1%
Religious afflictions
Buddhist - 69.3%
Hindu- 15.5%
Muslim - 7.6%
Christian - 7.5%
others- 0.1%

4ECONOMY IN SRI LANKA
AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY BASED COUNTRY
RICE IS STAPLE FOOD
MAIN EXPORT ARE TEA,RUBBER,COCONUT,READY
MADE GARMENTS,GEM AND MINOR EXPORT CROPSOTHER EXPORTS ARE PETROLIUMPRODUCTS,
LEATHER & FIBER GOODS AND ELECTRONIC GOODSMAIN FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNERS – EXPORTS
FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT AND TOURISM
MONETARY UNIT- SL RUPPE($ 1=SL 70)
PER CAPITA INCOME- $ 840(1999)

GOVERNMENTNAME – DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
GOVERNMENT – UNITARY MULTIPARTY REPUBLICLEGISLATIVE HOUSE – PARLIAMENTHEAD OF STATE – PRESIDENTEXECUTIVE POWER – PRESIDENT & CABINET
CAPITAL(ADMINISTRATIVE) – SRI JAYEWARDENEPURACOMMERCIAL & LARGEST CITY – COLOMBOOFFICIAL LANGUAGES – SHINHALA & TAMIL
LINK LANGUAGE – ENGLISH5ADMINISTRATION
9 PROVINCES
25 DISTRICTS
302 DIVISIONS
160 ELECTORATES
9914 VILLAGESADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE IN SRI LANKAPRESIDENTPARLIAMENTCABINETMINISTRIESDEPARTMENTS

DEPARTMENTSMINISTRIESDEPARTMENTSMINISTRY OF
HOME AFFAIRSPROVINCIAL
COUNCILS

DISTRICTSECRETARYPROVINCIALMINISTRIESDIVISIONAL
SECRETARYPROVINCIAL
DEPARTMENTS

DEPARTMENTSGRAMANILADARIPEOPLE

6MAIN NATURAL DISASTERS IN SRI
LANKA
FLOOD
LANDSLIDESCYCLONEDROUGHTSEA EROSION

FLOODzzzzzzzzzzzzz

103 RIVERS IN SRI LANKA
10 RIVERS ARE CONSIDERED AS MAJOR
MAHAWELI IS THE LARGEST RIVER – 330 KM
KALU, NILWALA, GIN AND MAHAWELIARE VULNERABLE TO FLOOD
MAJOR FACTORS FOR FLOOD
DEFORESTATIONIMPROPER LAND USEDABSENCE OF SCIENTIFIC SOIL CONSERVATIONIMPROPER URBANIZATIONFLOOD PRONE DISTRICTS – RATHNAPURA,KEGALLE, COLOMBO, GAMPAHA, MATARA,GALLE, AMPARA, TRINCOMALEE, BATTICALOA,BADULLE AND MATALE

KELANI,7LANDSLIDESzzzzzzzz

INCREASE OCCURRENCES OF LANDSLIDES DURING
THE LAST TWO DECADES21% OF TOTAL LAND AREA IS HILLY AND 1%EXTREMELY STEEPMAIN CAUSES FOR LANDSLIDEHEAVY RAINS & GEOLOGICAL CHANGESINDISCRIMINATE CLEARANCE OF STEEP SLOPESGEM MININGIMPROPER URBANIZATIONLANDSLIDE PRONE AREAS
CENTRAL, SOUTH WESTERN REGIONSDROUGHTSzzzzDRY ZONE AREAS IN SRI LANKA ARE PRONE TO DROUGHTSEVERY YEAR , SOME WHERE IN THECOUNTRY HAS A DROUGHTDROUGHTS OF REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCEOCCUR ONCE IN EVERY 3-4 YEARSSEVERE DROUGHTS OCCUR WITHIN
10 YEARSCAUSING MUCH HARDSHIPS TO THE
PEOPLE AND ECONOMY8CYCLONEzzzzzzz

Cyclones are not common disasters in the country
Northern, eastern and central region of the country
are vulnerable to cyclone
High gales and depressions are more commondisasters in sri lanka
1978 cyclone
Affected more than 1 million people
Killed nearly 1000 people
More than 250,000 house damage

SEA EROSIONSzzzzz

COASTLINE – 1585 KM
MORE THAN HALF OF POPULATION ARE LIVING
IN COASTAL AREA.
50% SUBJECT TO SEA EROSION
MOST AFFECTED AREASNORTH WESTERNWESTERN
SOUTHMAIN CAUSES FOR SEA EROSION
OFF SHORE MINING OF CORALSREMOVAL OF SAND
CLEARING OF MANGROVE SWAMPS
DESTRUCTION OF COASTAL VEGETATION

9OCCURRENCE OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND FUNDS ALLOCATIONFOR DISASTERS IN SRI LANKA - 1993-1999
YEAR

TYPE OFDISASTER

1993 FloodLandslides
Sea Erosion
Cyclone(High Gale)
Drought
Total
1994 FloodLandslides
Sea Erosion
Cyclone(High Gale)
Drought
Total
1995 FloodLandslides
Sea Erosion
Cyclone(High Gale)
Drought
Total
1996 FloodLandslides
Sea Erosion
Cyclone(High Gale)
Drought
Total
1997 FloodLandslides
Sea Erosion
Cyclone(High Gale)Drought
Total1998 FloodLandslides
Sea Erosion
Cyclone(High Gale)
Drought
Total
1999 FloodLandslides
Sea Erosion
Cyclone(High Gale)
Drought
Total

NO. OFDEATHS

DamagedHouses629

N0.OF AFFECTEDFAMILIES

42148
320

1
36

42468
52927

8
10

219874
870
160
450
16383
237737353409
284
384
456
2800
357333353409
484
517
1403
260
3560738238
75

30,001,904
4,419,500
497,000
700,000
8,108,200
43,726,604
37,401,904
628,520880,183
627,500
618,700
40,156,807
37,401,904
2,970,686
366,800
958,807481,300
42,179,497
12,224,897
52,40014,870,185
424,855,387
452,002,869
16,746,908
15769423639802537735
296863722
318,089,287
31236159
410953428080399002570600562
106665779
43862752
345000254000551130100981957
145994839

18
1

52927
10984
418
40
265

1
311707
971
12

10

8360

13
4
15

9343
3185
46263
114

19
2

3608
6161
57
196
1523

8360
199535216208
29948
626
154
650
434775466153
34746
50
188
3018

5
6379373665
2861
4938002
94352
404
303
168

93803

95227

3EXPENDITURE
FOR DISASTERS

EXPENDITURE FOR DISASTERS IN SRI LANKA
500450400350300250200150100500expenditure

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999Years10DISASTER RELEVENTORGANISATION IN SRI LANKAzzzzzzzzzzzMINISTRY OF SOCIAL SERVICESNATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTERDEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICESNATIONAL BUILDING RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONMETEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENTIRRIGATION DEPARTMENTCOST CONSERVATION DEPARTMENTCENTER FOR HOUSING PLANNING OF BUILDINGGEOLOGICAL SURVEY DEPARTMENTDISTRICT AND PROVINCIAL ORGANIZATIONURBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITYPROPOSED INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FORNATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENTNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR
DISASTER MANAGEMENTMINISTRY OF
SOCIAL SERVICESTECHNICALADVISORY GROUPNATIONAL DISASTER
MANAGEMENT CENTRE

OTHER DISASTER
RELATED MINISTRIESVIGILANCEGROUPSDEPARTMENT OFSOCIAL SERVICESPROVINCIAL
DISTRICTDIVISIONALVILLAGECOMMITTEESDISASTERVICTIMS

11NATIONAL POLICIES OF DISASTER
MANAGEMENT IN SRI LANKAzzzzzzzzz

PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM DISASTERSPROMOTE AND CONTRIBUTE DISASTER MITIGATION ACTIVITIESTO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTEFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES FOR PREPAREDNESS, PREVENTION,RESPONSE AND RECOVERYIMPLEMENT AND DEVELOP PROGRAMME FOR PUBLIC AWARENESSAND TRAININGINTRODUCTION AND AFFLICTION OF IMPROVED PROCESSIONALPRACTICES TO AGRICULTURE, LAND USE PLANNING,CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCEPROMOTE THE SHIFTING EMPHASIS TO PRE DISASTER PLANNING,PREPAREDNESS AND MITIGATIONIMPROVING POST DISASTER RELIEF, REHABILITATION ANDRECONSTRUCTION CAPABILITIESENHANCEMENT OF LOCAL CAPABILITY AND CAPACITY TOMANAGE RISK AND APPLY DISASTER MANAGEMENT PRACTICESENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTALORGANIZATIONS, PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS FOR DISASTER
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL DISASTER
MANAGEMENT PLAN(DRAFT)z PREPAREDNESS ACTIONz RELIEF OPERATIONz RECOVERY, REHABILITATION AND

RECONSTRUCTIONz AWARENESS AND PUBLICEDUCATION12NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTER
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
CHAIRMAN
D/M COUNCILDISATER RELATEDOTHER MINISTRIESSECRETARYMINISTRY OF S/SNDMCDIRECTORTECHNICALADVISORY GROPDy. DIRECTORCOMMUNITY AWARENESS &PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTASST. DIRECTOR
PLANNING &COORDINATION

Dy. DIRECTOR
PLANNING &COORDINATION

ASST. DIRECTORINFORMATION& RECSEARCHNATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMNTCENTER FUNCTIONSzPREPARATION OF NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLANzMONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DISASTER MANAGEMENTPLANS PREPARED BY OTHER MINISTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONz

PREPARATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY OPERATION PLANzESTABLISHMENT OF DATA BANK AND DISASTER INFORMATIONSYSTEMzPROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO AND FUNCTION AS THE SECRETARIATTO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT13FLOW CHART OF THE DISASTER RELIEF &RECOVERY ACTIVITIES IN SRI LANKA
CENTRAL GOVERNMENTINERNATIONALORGANIZATIONS& NGOONATIONAL LEVELNGOOMINISTRYOF SOCIAL SERVICESPROVINCIALCOUNCILSDEPARTMENT OF SOCIALSERVICESPROVINCIAL LEVELMINISTRIESDISTRICTSECRETARIATPROVINCIALSOCIAL SERVICES DEPT.

DIVISIONAL
SECRETARIATLOCAL LEVEL NGGO& VOLUNTEERSDISASTER VICTIMSCURRENT DISASTER RELIEF REHABILITATIONAND RECOVERY PROCEDURESz ALLOCATE FUNDS & RESOURCES BY THEGOVERNMENTz ALL RELIEF & RECOVERY ACTIVITIES ARE BEINGIMPLEMENTED BY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIALSERVICESz THE DEPT GIVES FUNDS AND GUIDANCE TO DISTRICTAND DIVISIONAL AUTHORITIESz DISTRICT AND DIVISIONAL SECRETARIES HANDLINGRELIEF AND RECOVERY ACTIVITIES AT THE DISTRICTAND DIVISIONAL LEVELz SUBMIT REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT WITHREGARD TO ALL RELIEF AND RECOVERY ACTIVITIESPROVIDED TO DISASTER VICTIMSz COLLECT AND ANALYZE DISASTER INFORMATIONBY DEPT. OF SOCIAL SERVICES14DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCEPROGRAMMEz COOKED MEALSz DRY RATIONSz KITCHEN UTENSILSz TRADE IMPLEMENTSz DAMAGED HOUSES ASSISTANCEz CROPS DAMAGE ASSISTANCEz FUNERAL EXPENSESOBSTACLES AND WEAKNESSES ON THEDISASTER MANAGEMENT IN SRI LANKAz INSUFFICIENT FUNDS AND RESOURCESz LACK OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN THE DISASTERMANAGEMENT FIELD
z LACK OF PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMMEz NO PROPER PREPAREDNESS PLAN
z LACK OF COORDINATION AMONG THE DISASTER
RELATED ORGANIZATIONSz LACK OF PAYING ATTENTION TO DISASTERS BYPLANNERS, POLICY MAKERS AND NATIONAL LEADERSz NO PROPER PREVENTION, MITIGATION, ANDPREPAREDNESS PROGRAMMES15CONCLUSIONz SRI LANKA IS KNOWN AS A DISASTER PRONE COUNTRYz DISASTERS HAVE CAUSED IMMINENCE DAMAGES TOECONOMY AND SOCIETY OF SRI LANKAz IT IS VERY ESSENTIAL TO STRENGTHEN DISASTERMANAGEMENT CAPACITIES TO COPE WITH IMPACT OFDISASTERSz IT IS VERY ESSENTIAL A LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONALFRAME WORK AND AN ACTION PLANz ESSENTIAL TO SEEK INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIONz MORE ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID PRE DISASTERACTIVITIES WHILE IMPROVING POST DISASTERACTIVITIESz ESSENTIAL TO IDENTIFY CO-RELATION WITH DISASTERSAND DEVELOPMENTz USEFUL TO CREATE DATA BANK WITH REGARD TODISASTERS16