1. Disaster Management Activities in Sri Lankaby
Major General Gamini Hettiarachchi (Retd)
Director General
Disaster Management Centre

2. Post Tsunami Disaster Risk Reduction Measures
Legal and Institutional frameworks.
Road Map
Capacity building, Preparedness measures and
reaction capacities.
Early Warning systems including forecasting,
dissemination of warnings and Last Mile activities.

3. Legal and Institutional Frameworks

4. 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

5. Hazards that come under the purview of the DMC
Air Raids
Civil or Internal Strife
Chemical Accidents
Radiological Emergency
Oil Spills
Nuclear Disaster
Urban and Forest Fire
Coastal Erosion
Tornadoes, Lightening Strikes and Severe Thunder Storms
Floods
Droughts
Landslides
Industrial Hazards
Tsunami (Seismic Wave)
Earthquakes
Air Hazards
Fire
Epidemics
Explosions

6. National Council For Disaster Management
Ministers in charge of
Ministers in charge of
Social Services
National Council for Disaster Management
Chair Person : H.E. President
Vice Chairman: Hon. Prime Minister
Police
Rehabilitation & Reconstruction
Finance
Land
Home Affairs
Fisheries & Aquatic Resources
Health
Science & Technology
Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Disaster Management & Human Rights
Water Supply
Housing
Highways
Coast Conservation
Urban Development
Irrigation
Education
Power
DMC
Environment
Defence

7. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) was established in August 2005 as the lead agency in disaster risk management in the country
In December 2005, the Ministry for Disaster Management was established. On January 2006, above Ministry was renamed as the Ministry of Disaster Management & Human Rights with human right portfolio being added to the Ministry

8. Organizational Structure Disaster Management Centre
National Level
Disaster Management Centre
(Director General)
National Consultants
Tech. Com. in each division
Risk Assessment, Data Collection, Research & Analysis Centre
Disaster Management
Technology, Mitigation Unit
Multi-Hazard Early warning & Dissemination
Unit
Preparedness Planning
Unit
Training, Education & Public Awareness
Unit
24 x 7 National Emergency Operation Centre
Personnel &
Administration Branch
Finance Branch
Media Unit
Intermediate & Local Levels
District Emergency Operation Centres
(DRM Coordinators)
Disaster Management Assistants

9. Receiving Early Warnings
Multi-Hazards Warning Dissemination System
Atomic Energy Authority
PWTS
DOM
NBRO
NARA
DOI
GSMB
CCD
Regional & International Organizations
Receiving Early Warnings
Government Agencies, Critical Agencies & Stakeholders
Police
Media & General Public
Military
UN System, INGOs, NGOs
Radio Comm
Fax
Internet
Satellite com
SLT/ Dialog, SMS
Police Com
Military Com
Cell Broad.
Warning Towers
DEWNS
Radio / TV
Multi-Hazards Early Warning Dissemination Unit of the DMC
Out Puts
Dissemination of Warning
24/7 Emergency Operation Rooms
Provincial Councils
District Secretariats
Divisional Secretariats
Local Authorities
Police Stations
Hospitals
Government Dpt.
NGOs, CBOs
District Disaster Management Committee
Divisional Disaster Management Committee
Villa level DM Committees
Speaker Sys.
Bells / Sirens
Messengers
Riders / Cyclers

10. 24 x 7 National Emergency Operations Centre

11. Relief and response work during recent flood & landslide disasters in the country has been coordinated effectively

12. Disaster Risk Management Mechanism at Sub-national Level
District Secretary
District Disaster Management Committee
Disaster Management Centre
Prov. Level Disaster Management Committee
Emergency Op. Rooms
Local Authority Committees
Govt. Departments
District Disaster Management Coordinators
Military & Police
Div. Level Committees
Private Sector
GN Committees
NGOs/ Civil Societies
Village volunteer Committees
Business Communities
Early Warning, Medical / Health, Search & Rescue, Camp Management & Security Committees

13. Devolved Disaster Management Framework
National Disaster Management Coordinating Committee
Provincial / District Disaster Management Committees
Divisional Disaster Management Committees
Community Disaster Management Committee
Sub Committees
Early Warning,
Medical / Health
Search & Rescue
Camp Management
Village Security

14. National DRM Committees
National advisory Committee
Emergency Response Committee
Disaster Victim Identification
Building Guideline Committee
Colombo Flood Committee

15. The Roadmap Towards a Safer Sri Lanka
The Roadmap is a 10 year DRM framework to be addressed in a systematic manner with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. These priorities of actions are consistent with the Sri Lanka DM Act No. 13 of 2005 and also in line with the Hyogo Framework For Action

16. Community Capacity Building, Preparedness Measures & Response Capacities

17. Risk Awareness
&
Knowledge Building

18. Awareness and Knowledge Creation among the Stakeholders

19. Training of Stakeholders

20. Knowledge and Awareness Building in Communities and Stakeholders for Risk Reduction

21. Community
Awareness

22. Participatory Hazard Mapping to identify safe routes and safe areas

23. Participatory Hazard Mapping in Vulnerable Communities

24. Community Evacuation Plans
Mock Drills to ensure response capacities

25. Evacuation Mock Drills

26. Community De-briefing

27. Lidar Survey of the coastal belt was carried out with Italian Government sponsorship.

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

31. Preparedness & Response Plans
National Level Plans
Provincial Level Plans
District Level Plans
Divisional Level Plans
Gramaniladhari Level Plans

32. Preparation of SOPs
Preparation of SOPs at National, District, Divisional and Community Levels.

33. Disaster Management Plans
School Preparedness Plans.
Institutional Preparedness Plans
Hospital Preparedness Plans for mass casualty transfer.

34. Building Codes
DMC has established a Committee for Development of Guidelines for Construction in Disaster Prone Areas
Hazard specific Building Codes for Landslides, Cyclone, Flood prone areas and for Seismic Activity has been finalized.
The Department of National Housing has compiled Building Codes for Tsunami prone areas which are pending finalization.

35. Early Warning Systems including Forecasting, Dissemination of Warnings and Last Mile Activities

36. Technical Agencies involved in issuing warnings
Meteorological Department
National Building Research Organization
Irrigation Department
Coast Conservation Department
National Aquatic Resources Agency
Geological Survey & Mines Bureau
Health Department (Epidemiology Unit)

37. Multi-Hazard Early Warning System
Warning Given by Technical Agencies
DMC & Other Relevant Agencies
Vulnerable Communities

38. Methods of Dissemination
Mass Media (TV/Radio/News papers)
Police/Military Communication
Multi Hazard Warning Towers
DEWN Devices
HF/VHF Communications
Telephones/CDMA/GSM
Satellite Communication
Internet
Cell Broadcast/ SMS
RANET

39. Seeking a Reliable Communication System for “Last Mile”
In cooperation with
CBDM

40. Telephones Mobile/SMS
Last Mile Activity
Community level
Messengers/Runners Motor cyclists/Cyclists /Three Wheelers Sirens/Bells Speaker systems in villages Telephone/Mobiles Police vehicles with speakers Hand held VHF set DEWN TV
RADIO
RANET
E-Communication
Telephones Mobile/SMS
Warning Towers

41. Traditional communication systems in villages
Near Real Time Landslide Early Warning
NBRO
Traditional communication systems in villages
LANDSLIDE
WARNING
Public Announcements through Radio, TV (Cyclones, Floods, Landslides)
Public Evacuation

42. Early Warning Network JICA Funded Observation Observation
Information Transfer
DOI
DOM
Information Transfer
Data Analysis
DMC
Community
District
NBRO
Warning
Evacuation
Warning
End-to-end early warning system is one of visible and useful output from JICA projects,
During the project period through our pilot and CBDM activity, we try to foster effective and efficient early warning system from one end of observation to another end of evacuation in community. At the end of the project, end-to-end system will be functioned.
Community people will be beneficiary of EW system and DMC will be a key actor of the DM activity
Therefore, community and DMC will be centered for consideration of this end-to-end early warning system.
Police
Media
JICA Funded
Intra-gov. Network

43. End-to-End EW System in Pilot Project
Grant Aid Project
Satellite
District
DM Coordinator
DMC
AWS
DOM DS
Office
As mentioned, two JICA projects has different role.
In the preparation of end-to-end EW system, weather observation equipment and communication network will be provided by the grant aid and determination of early warning criteria and community based activities will be carried out in the technical assistance.
Telephone
Line
Last Mile
DOI
Rainfall Gauge Waterlevel Gauge
Pilot Project in Kelani River Basin

44. Grant Aid : Meteorological Information Network
Real Time Monitoring of Meteorological Data
38 Automatic Weather Stations
Satellite
DOM

45. VHF / HF Radio Communication System to be established.
50 x Tsunami Warning Towers in the coastal zones.
VHF / HF Radio Communication System to be established.
10 line call centre to be established.
Establishment of 10 EOCs at District levels.
Establish community based Fire fighting capacity.
Community based rainfall assessment for localized Early Warning capacity.
Last Mile Warning Dissemination to be strengthened .
Vertical Tsunami evacuation structure to be built at selected locations.

46. Coastal Management Plans
Land Use
&
Coastal Management Plans

47. A National Land Use Policy has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers recently.
The Coastal Zone Management Plan of 1997 formulated by the CCD defines policy for management of the coastal area.
Integration of land use and hazard zonation will provide a tool for planners to make appropriate decisions during development planning.

48. National Level Activities
National DM plan to be approved
National Policy to be approved
DesInventar to be consolidated
SLDRN to be consolidated
Risk Profile to be completed
SMS & Cell broadcasting on going
Safety Day Celebration to be continued
CBDRM Manual
Streamlining gender to Disaster Management
ICS to be integrated
Ranet to be consolidated
Colombo Flood Mitigation Programme to be completed
JICA Projects on going
USTDA Projects (SIAC)
DM Communication & Response Capacity Development Project - ICET
Strengthening Local Authorities
UNESCAP – Communication Project
School Disaster Management Activity -UN OCHA funded
Environmental Project – Funded by the Korean Government

49. Consolidation of DM Activities in Line with the HFA

50. Thank You