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 ofthe 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.

The future we want-A safer Sri Lanka

Disaster Management framework in Sri Lanka

Chathura Liyanaarachchige
Assistant Director
Disaster Management Center

Chathura Liyanaarachchige
Visiting Researcher(Sri Lanka)
Asian Disaster Reduction Center

All living being may have a long life

Presentation Outline••••••••

Profile of Sri Lanka
Disasteri
Events andd Impacts
Evolution of DRM in Sri Lanka
Institutional Arrangements
Disaster Management Planning
DRR activities carried out
Lesson learned
Future of DRM in Sri Lanka

THE GLORY OF SRILANKA

Profile of Sri Lanka

Profile of Sri Lanka

Percentage disttribution of populationby ethnicity, 2001
5.10%

7.90%

0.70%

Sinhalese

4.30%

Tamil
82%

Indian Tamil
SL Moor-Overview of Climatology
Monsoon Season

FromToFirst Inter Monsoon

MarchApril

South West monsoon

MaySeptember

Second Inter Monsoon OctoberNovember

North East Monsoon

February

3000
2000
1500

1000

First InterMonsoon(Mar-Apr)

2000
1500
1000
750
500

2000
1500
1000

South-West
Monsoon(May-Sep)

500

500

3000

3000

750

750

250

December

268 mm/14%

SecondInterMonsoon(Oct-Nov)

250

3000
2000
1500

558 mm
30%

North-East
Monsoon(Dec-Feb)

1000
750
500
250

250556 mm
30%

479 mm26%

Disaster Events and Impacts

Disaster Event & Impacts

Disaster Event & Impacts. contDistrict

Disaster Event & Impacts. cont

DS Divisions

Evolution of DRM

Evolution of DRM• World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction Yokohama, Japan, 23-27 May 1994
Ten principles of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World• HFA 2005-2015 The Resilient of Nations and communities to disasters The 10-year
Hyogo Framework for Action came out of the World Conference held in Kobe,
Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005. Key Priority Actions

1.
2.
3
3.
4.
5.

Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority witha strong institutional basis for implementation
Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning
Use knowledge,knowledge innovation and education to build a culture of safetyand resilience at all levels
Reduce underlying risk factors
Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels

Sri Lanka National DM Policy
Priorities Accorded in the Policy for main Elements of DM¾ Preparedness to ensure safety of the people;¾ Mitigation/Prevention and Integration inDevelopment to best possible extent to reduce riskpin the countryy
and ensure sustainable development¾ Response and immediate recovery of essentialservices, and¾ Medium and longer term reconstruction andrehabilitation, to a higher standard than before theoccurrence of the disaster

Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act; No.13 of2005
Provides for a framework for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) ing((DM))
Sri Lanka and this Act addresses Disaster Management
holistically, leading to a policy shift from response basedmechanisms to a proactive approach. The Disaster Managementg
2005 under the National Council
Centre was established in Augustfor Disaster Management•••

Assist NCDM to Prepare & implementl
Nationall Policy
l on Disaster Management,National Disaster Management Plan, National Emergency Operation Plan andInstitutional disaster Management Plan for the country and take responsibility forimplementation
Assist and ensure all public sector agencies prepare Disaster Management Plans asper the National PlanAssist to obtain funds and Implement programmes and plans for disaster
preparedness, mitigation, prevention, relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction
activities and coordinate with such organizations

21 Hazards identified by the ActCyclone` Floods` Drought` Tornadoes,
Td
Light i g
Lightening
Strikes and SevereThunder Storms` Landslides` Tsunami (Seismic Wave)` Earthquakes` Air Hazards` Industrial
Ind strial HaHazards
ards` Chemical Accidents`• Explosions• Air Raids• Civil or Internal Strife• Radiological Emergency• Nuclear Disaster• Oil Spills including inland andMaritime oil spills• Maritime Hazard• Coastal Erosion• Urban and Forest Fire
• Epidemics

Institutional Arrangements

National council for disaster Management
Ministers in charge ofSocial Services
Rehabilitation &Reconstruction
Home Affairs
HealthScience &Technology
Housing
CoastConservation
Irrigation
PowerDefence

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

Ministry of Disaster
Management

PolicePliFinanceLand
Fisheries &Aquatic Resources

Foreign Affairs
WaterWt SupplySlHighwaysUrban
Dlt
Development
Education
Environment

DMC

Seven Thematic Areas of the Roadmap
Policy, Institutional Mandates & Institutional Development
Hd Vlbilit & RikA
Hazard,Vulnerability
Risk
AssessmenttMulti-hazard Early Warning Systems
Disaster Preparedness
pPlanningg and ResponsepDisaster Mitigation and Integration into Development Planning
Community based Disaster Management, andTraining, Education and Public Awareness

Ministers in charge ofEconomicDevelopment

Organizational Structure - DMC
Disaster Management Centre(Director General)

National Level
Tech. Com. ineach division

Ri kRisk
Assessment,
DataCollection,
Research &Analysis Centre

National Consultants

Additional Director General

DisasterManagementTechnology,
Mitigation
Unit

Training
Training,
Education &Public
Awareness
Unit

Financea ce Brancha cIntermediate &Local Levels

Preparedness
Planning
Unit

Multi-Hazard
MultiEarly warning &Dissemination
Unit

Personnel &Administration Branch

24 x 7National
Emergency
Operation
CentreM di U
Media
Unit
i

District Disaster Management Coordinating Units
A i t t Di
Assistant
Directorst (Di(District(Districtst i ts)

Disaster Management Assistants

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

Emergency Op.
Op Rooms

DisasterManagementCentre

Prov. Level DisasterManagementt Committee
MCitt

Govt. Departments

District Assistant
Directors

Local AuthorityCommittees
Military & PoliceDiv. Level Committees

DDMCUsPrivate SectorllVillage
volunteer
Committees

NGOs// Civil
Societies
BusinessCommunities

GN Committees

Early Warning, Medical / Health, Search & Rescue, CampManagement & Security Committees

Devolved Disaster Management Framework• National Disaster Managementg
Coordinatingg Committee•Emergency
ResponseCommittee
NationalDistrict

DivisionalGN• District Disaster Management Committees• Divisional Disaster Management Committees• Community 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

Disaster ManagementgPlanning

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 ofDepts. / Agencies / Civil & ArmedForces
Educational establishments

Divisional level Plans

Provincial Dept. / Agency plans
Educational establishments

Health institutions

Health institutions

Other as appropriatea
appropriatea
GN Level Plans

OtherPlans of other institutions
Private sector agencies
OfficesFactories
Commercial establishments
OtherCommunity Level Plans by CBOs

Local Authority (LA) Level plans

NDMP NEOP & SLCDMPNDMP,NEOP
National Disaster Management Plan(2013Plan(2013-2017)2017)
Overall disaster Management Framework in Sri Lanka• National Emergency Operation Plan (NEOP)
Disaster Response mechanism
hin Sri Lanka(www.neop.gsa.lk)k (lk)• Sri Lanka Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (SLCDMP
2014-2018).
•DRR activates carried out inSri Lanka

Key DDR Activities•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Analysis of Disaster Risks
Disaster Mitigation
Early Warning Systems & Emergency Response
Stock piling of equipment and supplies
Training and Public AwarenessCommunity Preparedness
Simulation Exercises
Evacuation - Community Preparedness

Key DDR Activities
••
•
••
•
•
•

Analysis of Disaster Risks
Disaster Mitigation
Early Warning Systems & Emergency Response
Stock piling of equipment and supplies
Training and Public AwarenessCommunity Preparedness
Simulation Exercises
Evacuation - Community Preparedness

Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Analysis•

It shows potential hazards prevailing in the districts, divisionsand Grama Niladari Level and probable time of occurrence,
which would be extremely important in terms of Preparedness
pand Response.
– Hazardous months of the division indicating Potential Hazards;
Probable time of occurrence;– Potential impacts and the last reported year;– Seasonality of hazards prevailing in the division within the year;– History of disasters in the division and their impacts;– Frequency of disaster occurrence indicating the time and areas
vulnerable to such disasters; etc.
– Prediction
di i off probableb bl disasters
diini relationl i to time,
iforf
precautionary measures, early warning and safe rescueoperations.
– Estimation of Population at risk

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

Key DDR Activities
••
•
••
•
•
•

Analysis of Disaster Risks
Disaster Mitigation
Early Warning Systems & Emergency Response
Stock piling of equipment and supplies
Training and Public AwarenessCommunity Preparedness
Simulation Exercises
Evacuation - Community Preparedness

Disaster Mitigation
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
I f t tprojects
j t throughthh Management
Mt andd Institutionalization
I tit tili ti
of disaster mitigation as a component

Disaster Mitigation
Non-strcutural Mitigation•Legislative
Legislative, Land Use and Risk Management Measures•Economic Measures• Institutional Strengthening

GROSSGCA
APITAL FOR
RMATIONTHE EFFECT OF DISASTER EVENTS ON GROSS CAPITALFORMATION IN A SMALL ECONOMY*DISASTER
DEVELOPING COUNTRIESINDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIESTIMEKey DDR Activities••••••••

Analysis of Disaster Risks
Disaster Mitigation
Early Warning & Emergency Response
Stock piling of equipment and supplies
Training and Public AwarenessCommunity Preparedness
Simulation Exercises
Evacuation - Community Preparedness

Early Warning Dissemination System
Receive data and information

Technical Agencies

GenerateGt warning
i messages
for the community

DisasterManagementCentreDDMCUDistrict Level

Dissemination
Of WarningMessages
Last Mile
Dissemination

Divisional LevelPolice&MilitaryCommunication &Media Centre

Police & Military

GN Level
Vulnerable
Community

Awareness & Training
Conducting Mock drills

Multi-Hazard Early Warning Dissemination System

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

Earlyy Warningg Unit
24 x 7 Emergency Operations Centre Provincial
P i i l / District
Di t i t Level
Ll

Radio Communication
Telephones / CDMA/ GSM
Police & Military Communication

Emergency Operations Centre
Disaster management Coordinators

 AGA Division / Village Level


Telephones / CDMA/ GSM
Early Warning Sub Committees/Teams
Police Vehicles – Announcements NGOs and CBOs
PA Systems
SirensTemple and church bells
Riders/ Push Bicycle & Motor Cycles/Messengers“Last Mile ” Dissemination
Government

Community
Communication Tools

Tsunami Warning
Temple Bell

DMC

Multi hazard
EW tower

District
Di i il
Divisional
GN

Loudspeaker car

SMS

PoliceFlood Warning

Evacuation Instruction
in collaboration with CBDM

Milit
MilitaryMediaMega phoneRider/Messenger

24 x 7 National Emergency
Operations Centre117
Call Center

Early warning through MediaTV CHANNELS• ITN• RUPAVAHINI• SIRASA TV• DERANA TV• SHAKTHI TV• SWARNAVAHINI• SIYATHA TV

NEWS WEB SITESSATTELITE TVPEO TV NEWS BAR

RADIO CHANNELS• SLBC• LAKHADA FM• SIRASA FM• DERANA FM• SRI FM
• SIYATHA FM• KIRULA FM• LAK FM• RANGIRI DAMBULU FMNEWS ALERTS• JNW NEWS ALERTS• DERANA ALERTS• LIVE @ 8 ALERTS

Emergency
ResponseSAR TeamTeams Dep bby Army
ArmEquipment allocated tothe SAR teams by theDMC

Air Rescue Missions By Sri Lanka Air force

More than 150 fire incidents - 2014

4 RS Teams by NAVYJune-2014
June2014 ( More than 400
people rescued in Kalutaraand Rathnapura

Humanitarian Responsep
By volunteers &NGOs

Key DDR Activities••••••••

Analysis of Disaster Risks
Disaster Mitigation
Early Warning Systems & Emergency Response
Stock piling of equipment and supplies
Training and Public AwarenessCommunity Preparedness
Simulation Exercises
Evacuation - Community Preparedness

Stockpiling of Machinery and Equipment
for Emergency Response•••••District & Divisional Secretariats:
Water bowsers,, Rescue boats,, Megag Phones,,Chainsaws, VHF/HF sets, Canopies, Sirens
Local Authorities:
Backhoe loaders, Water bowsers, Gully Emptier,
Water pumps, Generators, Sirens
Communities:
Megaphones, Fire extinguishers, Safety Jackets, PASystems,
y, Kitchen Utensils,, First aids kits,, Rain Gauges
gSchools:
First aids kits, Rain Gauges
Armed forces/Police :Public Addressing Systems, HF/VHF Sets, Ropes,
S&R Boats,
Boats Safety Jackets,
Jackets Search Lights,
Lights sirens,sirens
Megaphones

Key DDR Activities••••••••

Analysis of Disaster Risks
Disaster Mitigation
Early Warning Systems & Emergency Response
Stock piling of equipment and supplies
Training and Public AwarenessCommunity Preparedness
Simulation Exercises
Evacuation - Community Preparedness

Training & public awarenessTraining & Awareness onHazards, early warning systems, hazard mapping, campg,,Outbound Training,g, First Aid , Search &management
Rescue, Life Saving and Dead body Handling, ICS.
• Conduct awareness training to stakeholders on disastermanagementi.
District / Divisional officers
ii.
Armed forces/Police Officers
iii. Media Officers
iiv.
LLocall Government
Gt Employees
E lv.
NGO representatives
vi. Youth Corp membersvii. Vulnerable Communityviii. Committees/Sub committees
ix. School Teachers and Children••••

Disaster Education
Include to the School Curricula from Grade 6-Grade 11MSc,, Degree
gand Diploma
pin Disaster Managementg
programs were started in National universities of Sri Lanka•

Awareness Materials in all three Languages

National Safety Day, Exhibitions& International Conferences

Key DDR Activities••••••••

Analysis of Disaster Risks
Disaster Mitigation
Early Warning Systems & Emergency Response
Stock piling of equipment and supplies
Training and Public AwarenessCommunity Preparedness
Simulation Exercises
Evacuation - Community Preparedness

Participatory Hazard Mapping to identify
safe
f routest andd safe
f areasKey DDR Activities
•••••
•
•
•

Analysis of Disaster Risks
Disaster Mitigation
Early Warning Systems & Emergency Response
Stock piling of equipment and supplies
Training and Public AwarenessCommunity Preparedness
Simulation Exercises
Evacuation - Community Preparedness

Simulation Exercises
24 x 7 National Emergency Operation Centre

Purpose of conducting Exercises•Check the ppreparedness
plevel at each level•Check the efficiency of early warning dissemination mechanisms•To Asses the responding capacities of community•To get familiarize with SOPs on Early Warning Dissemination
Exercises•Information Transferring Exercises
p to communityy level throughg district, division, GN
National level up•Information transferring and Evacuation Exercise•Community evacuation exercise
One village, several villages, all vulnerable GN divisions, ….
•Table Top Exercises
With other Institutions, ………
•Role Play Exercises
For institutions

Irrigation Department

Gampaha District Secretariat56

Key DDR Activities
••••
•
••
•

Analysis of Disaster Risks
Disaster Mitigation
Early Warning Systems & Emergency Response
Stock piling of equipment and supplies
Training and Public AwarenessCommunity Preparedness
Simulation Exercises
Evacuation - Community Preparedness

Mock Drills

9 Community Evacuation Plans
9 To ensure response capacities
9 To ensure timely evacuation

Lesson learned

Lessons learned•

The officials and the general public learned the lesson of being
prepared for natural disasters.
disasters•gof agencies
gfor Earlyy Warning.
gThe horizontal and vertical integration
Gap in Early Warning was accepted by decision makers and initiateddialogues at policy level and grassroots level to prompt early warning
dissemination•

Community based disaster risk reduction approaches were advocatedby DMC as well as non-government partners.

Challenges/gaps encountered
•
•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•
•

il bl data
ddd
h i mechanisms
h i(dli datadd
Lackk off available
anddata sharing(Exposuredata,Baseline
andreal time data).
Lack of proper Vulnerability and Risk Analysis.
Different mandates, priorities and attitudes of Stakeholder agencies.
Changes of disaster calendar and unforeseen events occurred in recent past.
Unavailability of skillful people with innovative ideas, and political issues are consideredas challenges in implementing of disaster management plans at local level.
Financial contributions for all DM works are insufficient to fulfill all requirements atvulnerable divisions. Specially the supply of equipment to increase the response capacityof vulnerable communities.
Keeping the volunteer committee members active is another burning issue that DM
officers face at ground level because of the existing village committees..
Early warning mechanism at night time. Traffic plan for the evacuation of people,
specially during busiest day time.
Implementation of preparedness planning activities by DMC at local level with limited
human resources and with their capacities is a challenge.
Some NGOS/INGO conducting Disaster preparedness activities in local level with the helpof local administrations with different modules and methods.

Future of DRM in Sri Lanka

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction¾ Understanding disaster risk
¾ Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk
¾ InvestingIti g ini disasterdi t riski k reductiond tiforf resilienceili¾ Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to“Build Back Better” in recovery
recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction

HFA Average
AProgress
PScore
S
3.5
3.4
3
3.3
3.2
3.1
3
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6

Governance aninstitutional arrangements
gRisk identification andearlyy warningg

2007-2009

Knowledge and education

2009-2011

Underlying risk

2011-2013

Preparedness and response

Modified Disaster Risk Management Cycle for
Sendai Framework(Adapted from Khan et al., 2008)

DisasterDit
StrikeIndividual
disaster
response

Response/li freliefRisk sensitive
development
planning (includingcontingencyplanning)

Rehabilitation

Reconstruction

Risk investment
Risk Governance

Build backbetterRisk Assessment

Disaster risk reduction in post 2015 development agenda• Post 2015 development agenda will be shaped by three mutually
supportiveti iinternational
ttil fframeworks
k llaunchedh d iin 2015
– Sendai Framework for DRR– Sustainable Development
pGoals– Legally binding universal agreement on climate change• These three are closely interrelated• Growing disaster risks, climate change, poverty and inequality are
all indicators of unsustainability• IncreasedId didisastert llosses will
ill undermine
di ththe capacity
it off llow andd
middle income countries to make the capital investments and social
expenditure
pto achieve SDGs
• Need to shift the countries focus on managing the underlying risk

Sustainable Development Goals