Disclaimer
This report was compiled by an ADRC visiting researcher (VR) from ADRC
member countries.
The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views of
the ADRC. The boundaries and names shown and the designations usedon the maps in the report also do not imply official endorsement or
acceptance by the ADRC.

All living being may have a long life

Country presentation

Disaster Management Mechanism and theCurrent Early warning System in Sri Lanka
JJ.M.A.R.Jayrathne
M A R Jayrathne
Deputy Director Emergency Operation
Disaster Management Center

JJ.M.A.R.Jayrathne
M A R Jayrathne
Visiting Researcher(Sri Lanka)
Asian Disaster Reduction CenterC rrent Sit
Current
Situation
ation In Sri Lanka
Srii LankaS
L k facingf i droughtdht ini 2017 due
d to
t dry
d weatherthand no rain from December to end of March
Affected Families – 228,831 as at 27/02/2017
Affected people - 899,697
16 distracts out of 25

Presentation Outline
Profile of Sri Lanka
Disasteri
Events andd Impacts
Institutional Arrangements
DRR activities
Lesson learned
International Corporation framework
and Assistant• Challenges.
Ch ll• My Research Area

•
•
•
•
•
•

447 kmஇலங்ைக
Sri Lanka

223 kmArea – 65,610
65 610 km2
Population -20,560,00

Profile of Sri Lanka

Percentage disttribution of populationby ethnicity, 2001
5.10 %

7.90 %

0.70 %

Sinhalese

4.30 %

T il
Tamil
82 %

Indian Tamil
SL MoorAgro-EcologicalZones Mainly 02

Provincial
Map- 09

District
Map -25

Population
DensityOverview of Climatology
Monsoon Season

From

To

First Inter Monsoon

March

April

South West monsoon

May

September

Second Inter Monsoon OctoberNovember

North East Monsoon

February

3000
2000
1500

1000
750
500
250

3000
2000
1500
1000
750
500

First InterMonsoon(Mar-Apr)
268 mm/14%

SecondInterMonsoon(Oct-Nov)

December

3000
2000
1500
1000
750
500
250

556 mm
30%
3000
2000
1500

558 mm
30%

North-East
Monsoon(Dec-Feb)

1000
750
500
250

250

SouthWest
Monsoon(May-Sep)

479 mm26%

THE SEA AREA

EEZ

EEZ : (Area 8 x
Land Area ofSL))Continental
Margin :outer
limit of theclaim (Area
25 x Land
Area of SL)

 Coastline of around 1,340,
Km Territorial sea of 21,500 sq. Km.
 Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 517,000 sq. km.
 Area off extent off Continentalil Margini 1,672,396 sq. km
k8MYLADDY

1

2

ANCHORAGESFISHERIES HARBOURSANDANCHORAGES

3

MANNAR37

COD - BAY

36

4

KALPITIYAFISHERIES HARBOURS
1. MYLADDY
2. COD – BAY
3. VALACHCHENAI
4. KIRINDA
5. TANGALLE
6. KUDAWELLA
7. PURANAWELLA
8. MIRISSA
9. GALLE
10 HIKKADUWA
10.
11. BERUWALA
12. PANADURA
13. MUTHWAL
14. KALPITIYA
15. MANNARVALACHCHINAI

35

33

34
32
5
6
31
30

7

29
28
MUTHWAL

8
9

PANADURA

27
26

10
KIRINDABERUWALA25
1124
HIKKADUWA

23

GALLE
MIRISSA

22

20
21

18

17

15
14
16

13

12

TANGALLE

19 KUDAWELLAPURANAWELLA

THE GLORY OF SRILANKA

1. Kankasanthurei
2. PPD
3. Kokilai
4. Muttur
5. Batticoloa
6. Kaththankudi
7. Kalmunai
8. Pottuvil
9. Panama
10. Patanagala
11. Hambanthota
12. Kalamatiya
13 Rakawa13.
14. Unakurawa
15. Mawella
16. Nilwella
17. Kottegoda
18.
8 Ga
Gandarada a
19. Thotamuna
20. Pollathumodara
21. Kapparathota
22. Kathaluwa
23. Dodanduwa
24. Haranpola
25. Maradana
26. Payagala
27. Kaluthara
28. Dikowita
29 Pitipana
29.
30. Kammalmodara
31. Thoduwawa
32. Kandakkudawa
33. Kandakkuliya
34. Puththalama
35. Serakkuliya
36. Palliyawaththa
37. Amold Canal

9

Multi Hazards
in Sri Lanka

Disaster Event & Impacts
p
DISASTER/INCIDENTTSUNAMILANDSLIDEANIMAL ATTACKCYCLONE
FLOOD
LIGHTNING
EPIDEMICSTRONG WINDFIRE
DROWNING
RAINSGALE
CUTTING FAILURE
LAND SUBSIDENCE
EARTH SLIPCYCLONE & FLOOD
CHEMICALROCK FALL
FOREST FIRE
RETAINING WF
DROUGHTLEAK OR SPILLSTORMTORNADOURBAN FLOOD
TOTAL

DEATHSINJUREDMISSING30,95919,611
1,908
980
311
187
967
605
2
846
588
21
559
333
21
494
437
3
368
0
0
148
375
44
101
356
0
75
8
13
26
185
1
24
121
1
23
34
0
17
8
0
10
10
7
9
12
0
5
2
0
3
4
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
35616
23000
2,210

In 1974 to 2016 from desinventer

HOUSES
HOUSES
DESTROYED DAMAGEDAFFECTED
57,08548,2081,076,240
2589
10563
158959
195
7698
80062
18,147
111,0701371943
52,763
160,127
13,821,096
28
255
2072
0
0
5726355669
41803
420553
1902
934
15058
0
0
50
418
4400
745645958
12675
115767
82
769
16155
69
1742
10403
56
168
3043
13178
37371
319128
1
0
424
10
41
576
16
19
198
0
4
24
0
0
16,675,914
1
0
30690
2
33
7
25
166
430
0
0
155
153,194
438,046
35,437,227

Major Hazard prediction calendar in Sri Lanka

Cyclone trackAElapatha, Abayapura

Peradeniya

Human Elephant ConflictB t we care themButthEstablishment of Electric Fences and Live
FencesSpent more than 300 Mn
Rupees• Bio- fences are traditionally used as abarrier for Elephants.

Crocodile Cages project at MataraMore than
3000
families are
benefitted

Immediate After Occurrence ofqin Sumatra on
the Earthquake
26th December 2004
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

People were deceived due to un awareness.
35,000 People died due to unpreparedness
5000 missingi i
No any Early warning System had been established
before 26th December 2004
No any trainings for the vulnerable communities
communities.
No any preparedness for Tsunami.
No mitigation work.
They don
don’tt know the word “Tsunami”
TsunamiPeople try to collect things from the beach.

Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2626-1212-2004
09:00 (3-5 m)

No of Deaths – 30, 959
No of Missing – 5, 644
No of Displaced – 500, 669

08:50 (5-8 m)

08:40 (6
(6-10
10 m)

(2 m) 09:30
08:30 (7-12 m)(4-5 m) 09:20

Note:
Earthquake(4-9 m) 09:15
09:00 (7-9 m)
occurred at
06:58 am
Time of arrival of first wave and estimated max. wave height
08 50 (7-908:50
(7 9 m))Some of the devastations …..

Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act;
No.13 of 2005
9 Provides a legal and institutional framework for Disaster
Risk Management (DRM) in Sri Lanka
9 Addresses Disaster Management (DM) holistically,leading to a policy shift from response based
mechanisms to a proactive approach

National council for disaster Management
Ministers in charge of National Council for DisasterSocial Services
Rehabilitation &Reconstruction
Home Affairs
HealthScience &Technology
Housing
Coast
Conservation
Irrigation
Power
Defence

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

Ministry of Disaster
Management

Ministers in charge of
P li
PoliceFinance
Land
Fisheries &Aquatic Resources

Foreign Affairs
Water
Wt Supply
SlHighways
Urban
D
l
t
Development
Education
Environment

Department of Meteorology
Disaster Management Center
National
i l Building
ildi Researchh OrganizationO
i i

Economic
Development

Organizational Structure
Disaster Management Centre

I am inhere

Disaster Management Centre

National
Level(Director General)

National
Consultants
Additional DG

Disaster
Mi i i
Mitigation,
Research andDevelopment
division

24 x 7National
Emergency
Operation
Centre andthe EWdivision

Preparedness
Planning
division

Training,
Education& Public
Awarenessdivision

Finance division

Personnel&
Administrationdivision

M di Unit
Media
U it

Intermediate& LocalLevelsDistrict Disaster Managementg
Coordination Units (25)Disaster Management Assistants

TYPES OF DISASTERS(As per the Act)
1.Landslides
2.Cyclones
3 Fl d3.Floods
4.Droughts
5.Industrial Hazards
6.Tsunami (Seismic Wave)
7.Earthquakes
8 Air Hazards
8.Air
9.Marine Hazards
10.Fire11 E id i
11.Epidemics
12.Explosions

13.Air Raids
14.Civil or Internal Strife
15.Chemical Accidents
16.Radiological Emergency
17.Oil Spillsp ((Inland & Marine))
18.Nuclear Disaster
19.Urban and Forest Fire
20 Coastal Erosion
20.Coastal
21.Tornadoes, Lightening Strikes
and Severe Thunder Storms
 AnimalA i l Attacks
A k Dam Breach Drowningg
 Road accidents

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
ACT, POLICIES & PLANS

Sri Lankan Parliament SelectCommittee on Natural Disasters

DM ACT on Disaster Management

DM Policy

Disaster Management Plans at all levels
andd iin allll sectorst
Sri Lanka National Disaster
Management Plan

Sri Lanka National
Emergency Operation
Plan

DM Plans of Different Ministries

District Level Plans

Provincial Council DM Plans

Plans of
Depts. / Agencies / Civil & Armed
Forces
Educational establishments

Divisional level Plans

Provincial Dept. / Agency plans
Educational establishments

Health institutions

Health institutions

Other as appropriatea
appropriatea
GN Level Plans

Other

Plans of other institutions
Private sector agencies
Offices
Factories
Commercial establishments
Other

Community Level Plans by CBOs

Local Authority (LA) Level plans

Disaster Management Centre
Ministryy of Disaster Managementg

2.NEOP

1. Sri Lanka National Disaster
Management Plan

3 Institutional Disaster Management Plan with BCP
3.Institutional

1. National Disaster Management
coordination Committee CNDMCC)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

ERC Organizations
Goverment /Privet sector
Technical Organizations
NGO/INGO
UN org
Red cross mission
Academia
Etc.

2.Emegency Response Committee (ERC)•

Disaster Management Centre•

Office of the Chief of the Defence Staff•

Sri Lanka Army•

Sri Lanka Navy•

Sri Lanka Air Force•

Sri Lanka Police•

Fire Department•

National Hospital•

Ceylon Electricity Board••

Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd
Road Development Authority•

Sri Lanka Ports Authority•

Colombo Municipal Council•

Department of Government Information•

Central Environmental Authority•

National Water Supply & Drainage Board•

District Secretariat, Colombo•

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation•

Marine Pollution Prevention Authority

Disaster Management Framework
National to Local Level
National• National Disaster Management Coordinating Committee• Emergency Response Committee• District Disaster Management Committees
District• Divisional Disaster Management Committees
Divisional

GN• Village Disaster Management Committee• Sub Committees at GN Level

Sub Committees at GN Level
Early Warning
Evacuation /S & R

Medical / Health & first aids

Camp Management

Village Security

DRM Mechanism at Sub-National level
District Secretary
District Disaster
Management
Committee

DisasterManagement
CentreEmergency Op. Rooms

Prov. Level Disaster
Management Committee

Local Authority
Committees

Govt. Departments

District Assistant
Di t
Directors

Div. Level Committees

DDMCUsGN Committees
Villagevolunteer
Committees

Military & Police
Private Sector
NGOs/ Civil
Societies
Business
Communities

Early Warning, Medical / Health, Search & Rescue,
Camp Management & Security Committees

Key DRR Activities• Forecasting and Analysis of Disaster Risks• Disaster Mitigation• Strengthen of Response Capacity.
• Training and Awareness• Preparedness• Simulation Exercises• Early Warning & Emergency Response

Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Analysis•

It shows potential hazards prevailing in the districts,
divisions and Grama Niladari Levels and probable time ofpin terms
occurrence,, which would be extremelyy importantof Preparedness and Response.
– Hazardous months, indicating Potential Hazards; Probable time ofoccurrence;– Potential impacts
impacts.
– Seasonality of hazards.
– History of disasters– Frequency of disaster occurrence.
– Prediction of probable disasters in relation to time, forprecautionary measures, early warning and safe rescue operations.
– Estimation of Population at risk

Hazard profile of Sri Lanka
www.hazard.gov.lk

Awareness and Education on Disasters
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾

Books (Cartoon, Story, Education, School)
Leaflets/ Handouts
Sign boards
Posters / Calendars
Teaching Materials (guidelines)
VideosDramasPresentations, Games and Computer Quiz program
Mobile Training Vehicle
Tsunami Malla (Bag).

Knowledge and Awareness Creation sessions on Disasters

Disaster Mitigationg
Structural Mitigation• Engineering measures to modify hazard environment• Land use plan implementation and management• Control and protection works• Preparedness measures (retrofitting,(retrofitting strengthening throughstructural modifications etc)
• Reconstruction and rehabilitation work after a disaster• Infrastructure projects through Management andInstitutionalization of disaster mitigation as a component

Disaster MitigationgNon- Structural Mitigation•Legislative, Land Use and Risk Management Measures•Economic Measures
Institutional Strengthening•Institutional•Mainstreaming Disaster in to
D lDevelopment

Early Warning Dissemination System
Receive data and information

Technical Agencies

GenerateGt warningi messages
for the community

DisasterManagement
CentreDDMCU

District Level

Dissemination
Of Warning
Messages
Last Mile
Dissemination

Divisional Level

Police&Military
Communication &Media Centre

Police & Military

GN Level
Vulnerable
Community

Awareness & Training
Conducting Mock drills

Receiving Technical Information from Various Agencies
International and Regional Agencies

PTWC (Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
Local Agencies

United States Geological Survey

DOM

Global Disaster Alert andCoordination Service
INCOIS (Indian National Centre for
Océan Information Services

I dIndonesiani MeteorologicalM tl i l Services
S i

DOI
EMERGENCY
OPERATION
CENTER

Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard
E l Warning
Early
W i Service
S i

GSMB
MEPA
NARA
CCD

Australian Meteorological Services
Japanese Meteorological Services

Modes of communications
 National Level









TV Stations
Radio Station
Early Warning Towers
Police & Military Communication
Cell Broadcast/ SMS
Technical Devices
Satellite & Radio Communication (HF & VHF)
Telephones / CDMA/ GSM

 Provincial
P i i l / Di
District
i LLevellRadio Communication
Telephones / CDMA/ GSM

Early Warning Unit
24 x 7 Emergency Operations Centre
117 Call center/119/1919 call centers

Emergency Operations Centre
Police & Military Communication

 Divisional
Di isional lelevelel / Villa
Village
e Le
Level
el







Telephones / CDMA/ GSM
Police Vehicles – Announcements
PA Systems
SirensTemple and church bells
Riders/ Push Bicycle & Motor Cycles/Messengers

Early Warning Sub Committees/Teams
NGOs and CBOs
Vulaters

“Last Mile ” Dissemination
National

Community
Communication Tools

Tsunami Warning
Multi hazard
EW tower

DMC

District
Divisionall
GN

Loudspeaker car

Temple Bell

Flood Warning

SMS

PoliceEvacuation Instruction
in collaboration with CBDM

Milit
MilitaryMedia
Mega phone

Rider/
Messenger

I am inhere

Director EOC

Dy. Director(Emergency
Operations)

Asst.
Director
EO

Asst.
Director
EO

Dy. Director(Early warning)

Dy. Director(Communication)

Asst.
Director
EW

Asst. Director(Call Centre)

Three forces
officers
Management
Assistants
03 Nos.

Management Assistants
21 Nos.
Nos(24 x 7)

(Communication)

IT Assistants
02 Nos.

EOC Supervisor

Operation Assistants/
Management Assistants
13 Nos. (24 x 7)

Asst.
Director

Military
Coordinator

Police Officers

Radio
Operator
01 Nos.

Communication
Assistants
03 Nos.

24 x 7 National Emergency Operations Centre

EOC Operations

SMS/ Cell Broadcast
VHF/HF

EW Towers

Satellite

Multi-Hazard Early Warning Dissemination System

Government
Agencies, Critical
Agencies &Stakeholders

Technical Information fromInternational and National Agencies

PoliceRadio CommMedia & General
PublicMilitary

Dissemination of
Warning

Multi Hazards Early
Multi-Hazards
Warning Dissemination Unitof the DMC

Regional &International
Organizations

Out Puts

SLT/ Dialog,
g,
SMS
Fax
Internet
Satellite com
Cell Broad.

UN System, INGOs,
NGOs

24 Emergency
Operation Center

Police Com
Military Com

Provincial Councils
District Secretariats

Warning
TowersDistrict Disaster Management Committees

Divisional Secretariats

Divisional Disaster ManagementgCommittees

DEWN

Local Authorities
Police Stations

Media

Village level DM Committees

Hospitals
Government Dpt.
NGOs, CBOs
Speaker Sys.

Bells / Sirens

Messengers

Riders / Cyclers

77 Early Warning
towersRepeater
Stations
EW
TowersActivated through• Satellite• VHF RadiodLife at sea during Deployments & Retrievals

27 March 2011

Telephones

Thuraya Satellite phones

Satellite communication covering 25 Districts

Disaster Management Centerwith Media Agencies

VIRTUAL PRIVETNETWORK (VPN)IGN Net Work(Intra Government Network) in
between DMC and most important agencies)

DOM
730
GSMB

DOI

NBRO

119

740

750

760

President
House

785

790

NARA

SLRC

755
Min ofHealth
765

DMC
701

735
SLBC

IGN Net Work

745
OCDS

(Intra Government Network) in between DMC and
25 Districts)775

Disaster Early Warning Network(DEWN) (download software through play store)

DEWN
SERVER

CB
SMS
SMS
(5000
SELECTED
KEY
CONTACTS)

DEWN
SYSTEM
55

CELL
BROADCAST(12,500,000
PEOPLE)Self
S
lf evacuationi system as a local
l lsystem for the Landslides
Standard threshold limits of the Rainfall
Alert

Warningg

75 mm/day

100mm/dayy level

Evacuation, Off limit 75 mm/hour or 150mm/day

Community Based Early Warning Sysytem with Simple
Rain Gauge in vulnerable areas of the Community

Information from Key House to neighboring house Checking with the Key House by neighboring house Information sharing paths between neighboring houses

ADRC
conducted a Local Level Early Warning Program in Ratnapura area

Project for Community Centered Early
Warning Capability for Landslides and flood(financially supported by
ADRC)

Rain Gauges were given to the local community in the flood prone areas andtrained the responsible persons levels for the Alert and The Evacuation at therainy seasons.

Use of Military and Police for
Warning and Evacuation andRespondUse of Police Communication
during Disaster
Warning and Evacuation

EOC-DMC
EOC
DMC
119 Mirihana
DMC

All P
Policeli
Stations

119

Warning given to Vulnerable
Community through all Police
Stations

Early Warning System with Military
DMC

OCDS

ARMY
HQ

NAVY
HQ

AIR
FORCE
HQ

Vulnerable Community

COAST
GUARD
HQ

Deployment of Army
SAR Teams

Deployment of
Sri Lanka Coast Guard

Rapid Response Rescue& Relief Squadron (4RS)
Teams by NAVY

Air Support for Disaster ResponseFuture Plans for EW• SLT Warningg ringsg to Coastal Populationsp• To provide VHF communication to Divisionaland most vulnerable GN Divisions.
Divisions• Enhance the EW systems and dissemination
mechanism for the DAM safety.

International Cooperationp
All activities of DRR a line with
– SendaiS d i FFrameworkk ffor DRR– Sustainable Development Goals– Legally binding universal agreement on climate change- Sphere guidelines- Incident Command System
International Assistant-Good and Services
Nepal –Earthquake in 2015
Philippine – Cyclone Haiyan in 2013
Haiti –Earthquake
Earthquake in 2010

Disaster Insurance
Coverage
Covers lives and properties, specifically all
households and small business establishments(any business of which annual turnover does
not exceed LKR 10 M) covered up to 2.5
million rupees each in respect of damages(perevent) caused to their property and contents
due to Cyclones, Storm, Tempest, Flood, Landslide, Hurricane, Earthquake, Tsunami and anyotherh similarl naturall perils,
l excluding
l d Drought.
h
All Fishermen registered under Department of
Fi h i will
Fisheries
ill b
be coveredd tto ththe value
l off R
Rs.1
1
Million each.

Limitations•Death compensation other than fisherman death - Rs.100,000.00•Property damage (House and SME) - Max Rs.2.5 Mn•Fisherman death - Rs.1,000,000.00
Rs 1 000 000 00 (1 Mn)

Challenges/Gaps
Lack of available data and data sharing mechanisms (Exposure data, Baseline data and realtime data).
Insufficient Vulnerability and Risk Analysis in the country.
Different mandates, priorities and attitudes of Stakeholder agencies.
Political intervention for disaster management at every time.
Insufficient financial allocation for DM. Specially the supply of equipment.
Less active volunteer participation.
Night time evacuation.
No dedicated traffic plan.
plan
limited human resources in the DMC.
EW equipment maintenance. (Cost / Monopoly Market)
Poor recording of disasters.
Lack of knowledge transferring system.
Less adaptation of DM practices and Rules and regulation also DM frameworks.
No master Plan to the country

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Research Topic
Main Objective
Analysis of the Effectiveness of Early Warning to Face future tsunamis
in Sri Lanka ,comparison
comparison with Japanese systemsystem,Other Objectives•

To measure the most effective early warning system for Tsunami.
Tsunami•Identify GAPS in early warning system and remedial measures for further improvements.

Analytical Method

09:00 (3-5 m)

Sri Lankan Data

Japan Data

08:50 (5-8 m)
08:40 (6-10 m)

Comparing

Output08:30 (7-12 m)(4-5 m) 09:20((4-99 m)) 09:
09:155

Recommendation

08:50 (7-9 m)
09:00 (7(7-99 m)Hidden killers• Road accidents = 2300 deaths per/ year
• Drowning = 800• Lightning = 50
• Dengue = 100• Also Cancer,
Cancer Heart attack are prominent deaths.
deathsThank youMore information please visit: wwwwww.dmc.gov.lk
dmc gov lk