Community-Based Tsunami Preparedness
in Sri Lanka and its Challengers
A.M.R.N.K.Alahakoon
BA(Special) Geography, MSc in GIS & Remote Sensing)

Assistant Director(Disaster Management)
Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka
ADRC Visiting Researcher 2019FY

Presentation Outline▪
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Introduction
Country Profile of Sri Lanka and Tsunami Vulnerability
Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004
Institutional Arrangements
Tsunami Preparedness Initiatives in the Communities in Sri Lanka
Challengers

Introduction
Community-based tsunami preparedness is the collective
efforts of a community to prepare for and respond to thethreat of tsunamis. Its Include;

1. Education and Awareness
2. Warning Systems
3. Evacuation Plans

4. Drills and Training
5. Community Engagement
6. Disaster Recovery Plans

Why Community-Based Tsunami
Preparedness is Important

Local Knowledge and Ownership
Rapid Response
Effective Evacuation
Cultural and Linguistic Understanding

Social Cohesion
Bottom-Up Engagement

Resilience and Self-Reliance
Reduced Loss of Life
Sustainability

Community-Based Tsunami Preparedness is aproactive approach to disaster risk reduction andemergency response involving local coastalcommunities.
Community-based tsunami preparedness recognizes
that local knowledge and action are essential forsaving lives during tsunami events.
When communities are well-prepared and canrespond effectively, the impact of a tsunami can besignificantly reduced.

Tsunami preparedness is a matter of life and deathin coastal communities.

Country Profile of SriLanka and Tsunami
Vulnerability➢ Sri Lanka is an Island➢ Location
Indian ocean, Indian sub
continent
Latitudes 50.55’‐90.55 N
Longitudes 790.42’‐810.52’ E➢ Land area : 65,610 km2➢ Maximum Length :445 km➢ Maximum Breadth :225 kmPopulation of Sri Lanka
21,893,579
Approximately 33 percent of Sri
Lanka's population lives incoastal areas

Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26-12-2004
Number dead – 30, 959
Number missing – 5,644

Number displaced –09:00 (3-5 m)

08:50 (5-8 m)

500, 669

Most severely
affected areas inSL
1. Batticaloa
2. Trincomalee
3. Hambantota
4. Galle
5. Matara
6. Ampara
7. Mullaitivu
8. Jaffna

Note: (9Mw)
Earthquake
occurred at
06:58 am

08:40 (6-10 m)(2 m) 09:30

08:30 (7-12 m)(4-5 m) 09:20
08:50 (7-9 m)(4-9 m) 09:15

09:00 (7-9 m)

Time of arrival of first wave and estimated max. wave heightIndian Ocean Tsunami of 26-12-2004

Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26-12-2004

Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26-12-2004

Some of the devastation …..

Institutional Arrangements

Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act;
No.13 of 2005
✓ Provides for a Framework for Disaster Risk
Management (DRM) in Sri Lanka✓ Addresses Disaster Management (DM) holistically,leading to a policy shift from response based
mechanisms to a proactive approach✓ Measures have been taken to amend the act toaddress the DRM concerns after 05 years ofimplementation

National Council For Disaster
Management

Ministers in charge ofSocial Services
Rehabilitation &Reconstruction

Home Affairs
HealthScience & Technology
Housing
Coast Conservation

National Council for Disaster
Management
Chair Person : H.E. President
Vice Chairman: Hon. Prime Minister
Leader of Opposition
Nine Provincial Chief Ministers
Five MPs from Opposition

PoliceFinance
Land
Fisheries & Aquatic
Resources

Foreign Affairs
Water Supply

Ministry of Disaster Management

Highways
Urban Development

Irrigation

Education

PowerDefence

Ministers in charge ofDMC

Environment
Economic Development

Tsunami Preparedness Initiatives inthe Communities in Sri Lanka
Established Tsunami Early Warning Systems

Community-Based Awareness and Education
Participatory Hazard Mapping, Community
Mobilization and Preparedness PlanningEvacuation Planning

Established Community Organizations (VDMC)

Established Tsunami Early Warning
Systems
Receiving Technical Information from Various Agencies
USGS

DOM

GDACS
INCOIS

EMERGENCY
OPERATION CENTER

GSMB

INDONESIAN
MET
RIMES
AUS-MET

NARA

Tsunami Early Warning
Dissemination
Warning Given
by TechnicalAgencies

DMC
VulnerableCommunities

Multi-Hazard Early Warning Dissemination System
Receiving Early Warnings

USGSGDACS

Government
Agencies,
Critical Agencies& Stakeholders

INCOISINDONESIANMETAUSMET

RIME NARAS

PoliceMedia & General
PublicMilitary

Regional &International
Organizations

Disseminationof Warning

Multi-Hazards Early
Warning Dissemination
Unit of the DMC

DOM

GSMB

RadioComm
Out Puts

SLT/ Dialog,SMS
FaxInternet

UN System,
INGOs, NGOs

Satellitecom

24 hrs Emergency
Operation Center

Provincial Councils

Cell Broad.
Police Com

District
Secretariats

District Disaster Management Committees

MilitaryCom

Divisional Disaster Management Committees

Divisional
Secretariats
Local Authorities

WarningTowers

Village level DM Committees

Police Stations

DEWNHospitals

Media

Government Dpt.
NGOs, CBOs

Speaker Sys.

Bells / Sirens

Messengers

Riders /Cyclers

74 Early Warning
TowersRepeater
Stations

EWTowers

Community
level Last-mile
dissemination
Electronicmedia

DEWN

Messengers/Runners
Motor cyclists/Cyclists/Three Wheelers

Sirens/Bells

RADIO

Speaker systems invillages
Telephone/Mobiles
Police vehicles withspeakers
Hand held VHF set
Telephones
Mobile/SMS

E-Communication

Warning
TowersCommunity-Based
Awareness and Education

Participatory Hazard Mapping, Community
Mobilization and Preparedness Planning

Community Evacuation

Mock Drills to ensure timely evacuation

Established Community Organizations (VDMC)AT GN LEVEL▪ Early Warning▪

Medical / Health▪

Search & Rescue▪

CampManagement▪

Village Security

Future Challengers• Resource constraints• Less community engagement and ownership• The community-based DRR committee is notlegalized• Limited government resources