SRI LANKA IN THE WORLD MAP

Sri Lankaஇலங்ைக -Sri Lanka

Sri Jayawardenapura‐Kotte
6°54′N
79°54′E / 6.9°N 79.9°E / 6.9;
79.9
Sinhala, Tamil

Capital and Longitudes and Latitudes
Official languages
Language for inter‐ethnic
communication
EnglishEthnic groups ‐ 73.8% Sinhalese/13.9% Tamil/7.2% Moors4.6% /Indian Tamil,/.5% Others.
Government
Democratic Socialist Republic
H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa‐President‐Prime Minister
Hon. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
Minister of Disaster Management And Human Rights
Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe
Secretary of the Ministery of Disaster Manahgement and Human
RightsProf. Rajeewa Wijesinghe
Director General of the Disaster Management Center
Major Genaral Gamini Hettiarachchi
Establishment
Independence from the United‐
KingdomFebruary 4, 1948
May 22, 1972‐
RepublicArea
65,610 km2
Total
‐
‐
Water (%)
4.4
Population‐2009 estimate
20,238,000‐
GDP (PPP)‐‐
Currency
Time zone

Density798.9 people/sq mi

Total$92.018 billion$4,581
Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30)

WEATHER AND CLIMATE IN
SRI LANKA
The climate of Sri Lanka is typically tropical with an averagetemperature of 27°C. In the higher elevations it can be quite
cool with temperatures going down to 8-16°C at an altitude ofnearly 2,000 meters.
Normally-Bright, sunny, warm days.
The south west monsoon -May to July western(southern and central regions)North-east monsoon –December and January(Northern and eastern regions)Bio Diversity
covering only 0.013 percent of the world's land surface,

Sri Lanka is home to more than 2 percent of the world's known
frog and toad species.

The island is also home to 3,210 flowering plant species, ofwhich 916 species are endemic. Overall, about 27 percent of thecountry's plants and 22 percent of its amphibians, birds,mammals, and reptiles are endemic.

District
Map -25

Provincial
Provincial
Map- 09
Map09

Agro-EcologicalZones Mainly 04

Population
Density

Multi Hazards
in Sri Lanka

Multi Hazard
CountryMajor Natural Disasters in Sri Lanka
Floods

Lightning

Cyclones

Sea Erosion

Landslides

Sea SurgeDroughts

TsunamiTornadosEpidemics

High Winds

 Animal Attacks

The Hazard Profile
Number of people affected by different disasters in Sri Lanka(1974 – 2008)

Floods

Regionally significant drought occurs once inabout every 3 – 4 years
 Severe drought occurs once in about 10 yearsEnhance by the Change the Climate

Handawalapitiya
Earthquake

Walapane – Hanguranketha - 2007

Wathumulla -2007

Cyclone
December 2000

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY BY ELEPHANTS.
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007

Number properties
532
669
708
800+

Encroachment of “elephant habitats” byhumans interferes with “elephant lives”

Elephant DriveBut we care themLandslides

Ladupita,Kiriwanella-2007

Naranthalawa - interrupting traffic on Padiyapellela-Walapane roadSubsidence of road from Hewaheta to Deltota

Damaged house at Kirimetiya at Hewaheta

Watawela -1992/1993

Koslanda -1997

Okadagala,Haguranketha-2007

Mahawawe,Walapane-2007

BOMB EXPLOSION

MAN MADE DISASTERS

2009-May-19

Man made cutting failure at Beruwalalmd, lkao Pdwe,-2006

lmd, lkao Pdwe,- 2006
lmd, lkao Pdwe,-2006

 Southern, Western, Eastern andNorthern coastal belt is prone toTsunami
 The unprecedented havoc
caused by Tsunami haddevastated two thirds of thecoastal belt of Sri Lanka.
 More than 35,000 lives were lostand 100,000 houses werecompletely damaged in thirteen
districts along the coastal belt.
Approximately 5,000 people
were missing.

Some of the devastation …..

Galle harbour

Hambantota

INITIATIVES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENTThere has been unanimous recognition by the SriLankan government, civil society and international
agencies for an urgent need to setup a mechanism
which will prepare the country to withstand theeffects of various types of disasters

A Parliamentary Select Committee was appointed toreview the disaster risk management status of thecountry and make recommendations

An Interim Committee on Early Warning System wasset up.







In May 2005, the Government of Sri Lanka
passed the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act
No 13 of 2005 in the Parliament.
The National Council for Disaster Management(NCDM) was established, as per the act
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) wasestablished under the National Council forDisaster Management (NCDM) as the leadagency on disaster risk management in thecountry in implementing the directives of NCDMIn December 2005, the Ministry for Disaster
Management was established. On January 2006,
above Ministry was renamed as the Ministry ofDisaster Management & Human Rights withhuman right portfolio being added to theMinistryDISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE (DMC)
Vision:Disaster Risk Management for safer communities
and sustainable development in Sri Lanka
The Broad Mission:
To create a culture of safety among communities
and the nation at large through systematicmanagement of natural, technological and man‐made disaster risks

Organizational Structure
National LevelNationalConsultants

Disaster Management Centre(Director General)

DisasterManagementTechnology,Mitigation
UnitTech.
Com.

Tech.
Com.

Forecasting,
Early warning&Dissemination
Unit

Finance Branch(Deputy Director)

Intermediate &Local Levels

Preparedness
Planning
Unit

Tech.
Com.

Tech.
Com.

Training,
Education& Public
Awareness
Unit

Personnel &Administration
Branch
(Deputy Director)

District Emergency Operation Centres(DRM Coordinators)
Disaster Management Assistants

Tech.
Com.

National
Emergency
Operation
CentreMedia Unit
(Deputy Director)

Ministers in charge ofSocial Services
Rehabilitation &Reconstruction
Home Affairs
HealthScience &Technology
Housing
CoastConservation
Irrigation
PowerDefence

Ministers in charge of

National Council for
Disaster ManagementChair Person : H.E. President
Vice Chairman: Hon. Prime Minister

PoliceFinanceLand
Fisheries & AquaticResources

Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Disaster
Management & Human Rights

DMC

Water Supply
Highways
Urban
Development
Education
Environment

What We havedoing throughDisaster Management
Technology, Mitigation Unit

To Reduce the Risk?
THIS IS MYRESPONSIBILITY

Flood Mitigation - 2008
District

No ofProjects

Colombo08

Total Allocation
Rs (Mn)44.42

Gampaha03

28.7

Kalutara

07

30.505Hambantota

0126

Puttalam01

2.25District

Unit

Kandy

50 Tanks

Total Allocation
Rs (Mn)1.269

Hambantota

70 tanks

2.487

Kalutara

03 projects

10.7

Deraniyagala

01

10

Total

23.456

MORE
THAN
500
FAMILIES
BENEFITFROMTHIS

MORE
THAN
300
FAMILIES
BENEFIT
FROM
THISDistrict

Place

ColomboMoratuwa

Total Allocation
Rs (Mn)2.479

MataraWeligama

0.342

Puttalum

Chilaw

0.65

Total

3.421

Natural Barriers

Panadus Plant
Mangrove Plant

 BuildingofBio-Shields

withcommunity

Participation
 Planting of Mangroves and sea shore plants suchas Pandanus sp. to provide a wave-breakMore than3000
families arebenefitted

Saved more than 20 lives in aYEAR

ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTRIC FENCES
AND LIVE FENCES

Spent more than 20
Mn Rupees to protect
crops and lives

 Electric fences are traditionally used as abarrier for Elephants.

Electric Fence

This project directly contributed to enhance the agricultural production

Number of land slide mitigation projects wereconducted in the upper mountain area toreduce the risk

How We reach tothe People through
Early Warning Division

To Reduce the Risk?

Multi-Hazards Warning Dissemination System
SMS/e‐mailGlobal Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) & USGSPTWSDOMNBRORegional &International
Organizations
Government
Agencies, Critical
Agencies &Stakeholders
PoliceNARA

DOI

GSMB

CCD

AtomicEnergyAuthority

Receiving Early Warnings

Radio Comm

Disseminationof Warning

Multi-Hazards Early Warning
Dissemination Unit of theDMC

Outputs

SLT/ Dialog,SMS
FaxMedia & General
PublicInternet

Military
UN System, INGOs,NGOsSatellite com

24/7 Emergency
Operation Rooms

Cell Broad.
Police Com

Provincial Councils
District Secretariats

District Disaster Management Committee (DS OFFICE)

Divisional Secretariats

Divisional Disaster Management Committee (DIV SEC)

Military Com
Warning
TowersLocal AuthoritiesVillage level DM Committees

Police Stations

DEWNS

Hospitals

Radio / TV

Government Dpt.
NGOs, CBOs

Speaker Sys.

Bells / Sirens

Messengers

Riders / Cyclers

Government

Community
Communication Tools

DMC

DEWN Multi hazard Temple BellEW tower

TsunamiFlood Warning

District
Division
Loudspeaker car

SMS

PoliceEvacuation Instruction
Media
Handy
speaker

TV & Radio

Loudspeaker

In cooperation withCBDMErection of warning signs

5 Million people can Receive the messages with in few seconds (SMS or CB)

ADRC
conducted a Local Level Early Warning Program in Ratnapura area
Project for Community Centered Early
Warning Capability for Landslides andflood (financially supported byADRC)

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

Self Evacuation

JICA PROJECT – Intra-Governmental Network
Central Level- NBRO, DOM and DOI- Data Collection and Analysis- Responsible for Technical Advise and Warning

NBRO

DOM

GA / District
Secretariat

Intra-gov
NetworkDistrict
DMC

DOI

Districts vulnerable for Flood and Landslide;
Colombo, Gampaha, Kegalle, Ratnapura,
Kalutara, Galle and Matara

DMC- Responsible for Evacuation Instruction and Response

DMCServerInternet*Media*Police
Sharing Disaster
related Information*Information would be filtered orprotected as required

Sharing Disaster
related Information with Image

24 x 7 National Emergency Operations Centre24 x 7 National Emergency Operations Centre

Hot-line

Fax
Internet
Satellite

Planning
Room

Planning
RoomEmergency
Operations Centre

MediaRoom

Computer Work
Stations

CCTV Monitors

Equipment
Room

SLT/ Dialog,
SMS

Risk
Assessment
Data
Collection,
Researchand Analysis
CentreAir Port, Harbour & Other
vital installations ofservice providing
agencies etc.

Linked by Radio, CDMA &Satellite Communication

TV Monitors

Tsunami &Multi Hazard
Warning
CentreEOCs & DM Committees ofProvincial Councils, Districts,
Div, LA, Local Authorities

Communication RoomInter
National &Regional
DisasterWarning
Centres

StudioRoomBriefing
Room

Plasma Large TV Screen

Conference
RoomBriefing
Room

20 Line Call Centre

General Public• Presidential
Secretariat• PM’s Office• NCDM• Cabinet• M/DM&HR•MOD• Ministries• Military• Police• Govt. Agencies• Private
Agencies• NGOs• CBOs• Red Cross• Civil Society
Emergency
ServiceProviders

What we are doing
through the Trainingand PublicAwareness Division.

Knowledge and Awareness Building inCommunities Risk ReductionParticipatory Work with Communities
Workshops and Lectures
On Mechanism of Disasters and Disaster Management
Purpose: To understand current situation of community
disaster risk management system and disaster
response

Field Survey (TownWatching)
Discussion on evacuation in caseof emergency
Confirmation/Reconsideration ofproposed evacuation route

Develop a
Community-based
Hazard Map (draft)
To Visualize the observations
and findings through thediscussion and field survey.

Discussion on Current Problem & Action Plan
To discuss- what are the problems,- who is responsible to solve them,- what actions are needed.

Participatory Hazard Mapping to identify
safe routes and safe areas

Participatory Hazard Mapping in Vulnerable Communities

Community Evacuation Drills

Mock Drills to ensure response capacities

Community Response Capacity
Community response capacity enhancethrough the training of village level volunteers
for the following; First Aid Life Saving
 Swimming Boat handling Leadership (Outward Bound Training) Search & Rescue Camp Management

Current Progress andthe futureDevelopments ofthrough thePreparedness and thePlanning Division.

 National Level Plans
 Provincial Level Plans
 District Level Plans
 Divisional Level Plans
 Gramaniladhari Level Plans
Preparation of SOPs at National, District,
Divisional and Community Levels

 School Preparedness Plans.
 Institutional Preparedness PlansHospital Preparedness Plans for mass casualty transfer.

 Developing guidelines and Standard Operational Procedures for line

agencies Developing data bases for DRM and Disaster Impact Assessments
DesInventar Data Base - www.dmc.gov.lk
 Using every possible method for early warning Enhancing area of research and survey while coordinating withrelevant technical agencies
 Human resources , Capacity Building of the DMC staff.
 Consolidation of DM Activities in Line with the HFAClimate Change in SriLanka
Increases theDisaster Risk

severe damage is predicted for plantation
crops grown in Sri Lanka
in the future as a result of this excess andunpredictable rain fall.
Already, paddy farmers of Sri Lanka doplanting in between Yala and Maha seasons
with the late arrival of the South Westmonsoon rains and face severe problems
caused by the inter monsoon rains just at thecommencement of harvesting.

 South Asia is the home of almost one-fourth ofworld population.
 Economies of the countries of South Asia arehighly dependent on agriculture.
 More than 80 per cent of withdrawn water isused in the Agriculture sector.
 Global warming will alter water resources andirrigation water requirements, and theirdistributions in time and space.

What causes to the
Climate Change

Continental drift
Volcanoes

The earth's tilt
Ocean currents
Greenhouse gases and their sources

Over the past 15 years (1990-2005), Sri
Lanka has had one of the highest
deforestation rates of primary forests in theworld.

Mean Annual Temperature - Hambantota

Degrees Celcius

30.0

29.0

28.0

27.0

26.0

Year

Clear Increasing Trend with Prominence
After early 1970s

A nnual A v

1996

1990

1984

1978

1972

1966

1960

1954

1938

1932

1926

1920

1914

1908

1902

1896

1888

1882

1876

1870

25.0

Linear (A nnual A v)

Annual Mean Temperature o C - Ratnapura
Degrees celcius

30.0
29.0
28.0
27.0
26.0

Annual Mean

Linear (Annual Mean)

Similar increasing Trend

Year

1996

1991

1986

1981

1976

1971

1966

1961

1956

1951

1946

1941

1936

1931

1926

1921

1916

1911

1906

25.0

2008Annual Rainfall Trend from 1901 to 2000 - Walaw e in Holmw ood: Lat: 6.85oN Lon: 80.72oE El: 1685.0 m
4500
4000
3500

mm

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500

Holmw ood

FilteredPoly. (Holmw ood)Year

Walawe in Holmwood – A Reducing Trend from early 70s

1997

1993

1989

1985

1981

1977

1973

1969

1965

1961

1957

1953

1949

1945

1941

1937

1933

1929

1925

1921

1917

1913

1909

1905

1901

0

By2020
2020weweneed
need4545%%moremorericerice
By

We need more than 930,000 tonsof rice in 2020

••Water – Quantity & Quality
Uncertainty in weather High air temperature Increased frequency of water stress periods(Mainly affect for the Rain fed agriculture)• Soil Salinity• Health hazards
Climate change would further deteriorate this situation• 4000 ha in Coastal Area due to Tsunami• 112,000 Ha affected by the salinity in coastal(Panabokka,1972)• Most productive lands in Dry Zone
10-20% land in Pollonnaruwa, Ampara, Anuradhapura,Puttlum, Hambantota ( SL Soil Science Society)• Some Lands Under the Accelerated Mahaweli projects( SL Soil Science Society)
Climate change would further deteriorate this situation

Southwest Monsoon Rainfall across the country is predicted toincrease by 38% in 2050s.

This increasein rainfall willcause floods
and landslides in wetzone areas.

The North east monsoon (December to February) is predicted
to decrease 34% and in 2050s.
The highest
decrease ispredicted inTrincomaleeand Batticaloa

Coasts
 Coastal erosion, due to climate change and sea level rise.
 By the 2080s, more people than today are projected toexperience floods every year due to sea level rise.
 The numbers affected will be largest in the densely
populated and low-lying areas.

Industry, settlements and society The most vulnerable industries, settlements andsocieties are generally those in coastal and river flood
plains, those whose economies are closely linked withclimate-sensitive resources and those in areas prone toextreme weather events, especially where rapid
urbanization is occurring.
 Poor communities can be especially vulnerable, inparticular those concentrated in high-risk areas.

ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
 Adapting to short- and long-term changes in climate
 Measures to reduce the impacts of climate change[Mitigation –Measures to reduce the probability of climate change
by eliminating its causes] Introduce short duration paddy varieties to avoid low

rainfall in January and February.
 Introduce methods to use less water for paddy
cultivation.
 Reduce the extended of paddy cultivation in highly
stressed areas and introduce low water requirement
other field crops. Storage of water will enhance theagricultural productivity to ensure food security.
 Adequate awareness and education must be given topeople on proper way of collection, storage,
maintenance and usage of water.

How Agro Forestry can help to mitigate
climate change challenges…..
1. Minimize the level CO2 which will result in
lower contribution to the greenhouse gas
pool
2. Helping to conserve soil and moisture,and increasing microbial populations inlands which otherwise will cause changeof climate
3. Reducing the pressure on forests throughon-farm production

As a Human Being,
every one’s ultimate
target must be savethis beautiful planet
for all of us and forthe future
generations.

Pradeep Kodippili
Assistant Director
DisasterManagement Center
No. 2-222, BMICH,
Colombo 07
Tel: 0112 670071
Fax: 0112 670089
www.dmc.lk