SRI LANKAI.

Natural hazards in Sri Lanka

1.1 Natural hazards likely to affect the country
Drought, Earthquake, Epidemic, Extreme Temperature, Famine, Flood,
Insect Infestation, Slides, Volcano, Wave / Surge, Wild Fires Wind Storm
1.2 Recent major disasters
year
2004
2003
2004
2005
2004

dis_subset
Drought
Flash Flood
Flood
Flood
Tsunamikilled injured total_affected dam (US ‘000s)―
00
3500000235
0695000
29000―
60200000―
60
14500035399 23176
1019306
1316500

Source: "EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Databasewww.em-dat.net - Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels Belgium"
II.

Disaster Management system

2.1 Administrative system

Conventional long form:
Conventional short form:
Government type
Capital:Administrative divisions:

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
republic
Colombo
8 provinces; Central, North Central, North
Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa,
Southern, Uva, Western; note - North
Eastern province may have been divided in
two - Northern and Eastern

2.2 Legal system, legal framework
Forest Policy (1929)
Amended in 1951 and further amended in 1980. It gave emphasis on thepreservation of environments, the need for peoples participation and forsocial forestry.

Sources: ADRC country report, WCDR country reportConstitution (1978) of Sri Lanka:
Recognized the need for environmental protection and management as afundamental right, obligation and responsibility of both the state andthe people.
National Environment Act (1980):
Established the Central Environmental Authority in 1981, the focal
point for environment, coordination and implementation ofenvironmental matters. In 1988, CEA’s functions were expanded tolicensing procedures and drafting of legislations on environmental
impact assessment procedures for developmental activities. In addition,
several new public institutions came into being in order to deal withspecific environmental issues.
National Disaster Management Bill (2005):
The salient features of the Bill include setting up of a National Disaster
Management Authority under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister;State Disaster Management Authorities in the States/Union Territories
under the chairmanship of Chief Minister or Lt. Governor orAdministrator, as the case may be; and the District Disaster
Management Authority under the District Magistrate in each district.
The National and State Authorities shall be responsible for laying down
the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management. The District
Authority shall act as the district planning, coordination andimplementing body for all disaster management related functions. Thesefunctions will include mitigation and preparedness measures also,
besides response, relief and rehabilitation.
2.3 Structure of disaster management
The National Disaster Management Centre (1996) under the Ministry ofSocial Services and Housing Development is the focal point for disastermanagement in Sri Lanka.
NDMC serves as a secretariat to the National Disaster ManagementCouncil. The Disaster Management Centre has been set up under the SriLanka Disaster Counter Measures Bill. The Disaster Management
Coordinating Committee is the apex body today for disaster prevention.
This committee looks into to the prevention, mitigation and recovery
from disasters.
The Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Services takes alead role in disaster Management specially on
emergency relief
assistance for the victims of disasters , rehabilitation and reconstruction
activities.
Provincial Councils, District Secretariats and Divisional Secretariats atSources: ADRC country report, WCDR country reportvarious levels prepare and direct recovery activities. The District andDivisional level Disaster Management Coordinating Committees
monitors disaster management activities at the district and divisionallevels. The department implements all prevention, relief andrehabilitation activities through the Divisional Secretariats. TheDepartment and the Divisional Secretariats have middle officers, called
the Social Service officers, to assist the Divisional Secretariats to carryout the prevention and relief work at the Divisional level. TheseSecretariats also have another grade of officers (Grama Niladaries),
Administrative officers at the Village level, to implement the activities
relating to disasters.
The grassroot level Disaster Management Committees coordinates allactivities pertaining to disasters at the village level.
In addition, the Human Disaster Management Unity was created in2001 under the Presidential Secretariat to implement preparedness
measures for man-made disasters.
2.4 Priority on disaster risk management
Multi-Hazard Mitigation Project, which started in 1997 is the priority
activity on disaster risk management. It is being implemented by theCentre for Housing, Planning and Building in collaboration with theNational Building Research Organization (NBRO) and the Urban
Development Authority. It has three components: demonstration ofmethodologies for risk reduction in pilot areas, networking and training.
III.

Disaster management plan

In 1993, an Action Plan was formulated by the Government of Sri Lanka.
The basic objectives of the Action Plan are as follows:a. Prevention and mitigation of disasters;b. Protection of life and property;c.
Maintenance and restoration of order in areas effected by disasters;
andc.
Provision of facilities for emergency response, relief, rehabilitation
and reconstruction;
The plan classified the activities under the following groups:
a. Preparedness
b. Relief operationc.
Recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction,
d. Awareness and public education,

Sources: ADRC country report, WCDR country reportImplementation strategies for the plan:a. Introduction of improved professional practices in the areas ofagriculture, land use planning, construction and maintenance;b. Encouraging participation of non-governmental organizations,private institutions and individuals, and soliciting and directing
private donations to recipients in affected areas;
c.
d.
e.

Fostering scientific and engineering studies (e.g. landslide hazardmapping) as tools for sustainable development;
Emphasis on pre-disaster planning and preparedness, while
sustaining and improving post-disaster relief, recovery andrehabilitation capabilities; andIntegration of disaster prevention and preparedness in the national
as well as sub-national planning processes.

In order to coordinate the Disaster Management work at hamlet,divisional, district and provincial levels, the mandates the formation ofcommittees at different administrative levels. These committees consistof personnel drawn from public and private sectors. The plan also spells
out the functions of the National Centre for Disaster Management.
IV.

Budget size on national level

The fund for disaster management activities is dependent on the annual
budget of the Department of Social Services, which is very minimalcompared to the activities that need to be conducted to prepare andenable people to respond effectively to any emergency.
V.

Progress and situations of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)

VI.

Projects on disaster reduction headed by your Ministry

VII.

ADRC Counterpart
Secretary of Ministry of Social Services, 5th Floor, Sethsiripaya,
Battaramulla

Sources: ADRC country report, WCDR country report