Responding to Disaster Situations UWL Chandradasa

1. Responding to Disaster SituationsUWL Chandradasa Disaster Management Centre

2. Establishment of the DMC and its Activities Disaster Management Centre

3. Sri Lankan Parliament Select • Committee on Natural Disasters • – bi-Partisan Committee • Delebarated and Made • recommendations Towards • achieving a safer Sri Lanka • Guided legislative and Policy • efforts

4. Legislative Background • Tsunami (2004), floods and landslides (2003) and various small to medium scale disasters over the past few years have brought back into focus the fact that Sri Lanka is a disaster prone country. • Recurrent disasters have caused losses to human lives, property and the environment and eroded development gains. • Need to strengthen all aspects of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) – both proactive risk reduction as well as reactive disaster response mechanisms • Tsunami has reaffirmed the urgent need for a DRM legislation in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Parliament passed the “Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No 13 of 2005.”

5. Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act; No.13 of 2005 • 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 • Establishment of Institutional and Legislative framework for DRM • National Council for Disaster Management (NCDM) and Disaster Management Centre (DMC) established in accordance with the Act.

6. DRM Institutional Framework in Sri Lanka- National Level Ministers in charge of National Council for Disaster Management Chair Person: H.E. President Vice Chairman: Hon. Prime Minister Opposition Leader Ministers in charge of Social Services Police Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Finance Land Home Affairs Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Health Science & Technology Foreign Affaires Chief Ministers (7) Opposition MPs (5) Water Supply Housing Highways Coast Conservation Minister of Disaster Management Urban Development Irrigation Education Power Environment Defense DMC

7. DRM Institutional Framework in Sri Lanka- Sub national Level DMC Provincial Councils District Secretariats Line Departments Divisional Secretariats Local Authorities Grama Niladaries Village Task Forces (Activities will be coordinated through Disaster Management Coordinators)

8. Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Vision: 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 systematic management of natural, technological and man-made disaster risks

9. Organizational Structure Disaster Management Centre Disaster Management Centre (Director General) National Consultants National Level National Level Disaster Management Technology, Mitigation Unit (Director) Forecasting, Early warning & Dissemination Unit (Director) Preparedness Planning Unit (Director) Training, Education & Public Awareness Unit (Director) National Emergency Operation Centre (Director) Tech. Com. Tech. Com. Tech. Com. Tech. Com. Tech. Com. Personnel & Administration Branch (Deputy Director) Finance Branch (Deputy Director) Media Unit (Deputy Director) District Emergency Operation Centres (DRM Coordinators) Intermediate & Local Levels Disaster Management Assistants

10. Main Activities of the DMC • Disaster Management Technology, Long-term Mitigation & DRR • Early Warning • Emergency Operations in case of a disaster • Preparedness Planning (National and Other levels) • Training, Education & Public Awareness

11. How to enforce, coordinate and monitor activities Through countrywide • ministries, • departments • public corporations, • Provincial Councils • local authority administration; • District secretaries • Divisional secretaries • Grama Niladhari administration

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

13. Agencies Involved in the DRM activities • National Institute of Education • SL Army • SL Navy • SL Air Force • Sri Lanka Telecom • SLIDA, CHPB, SLILG • Survey Dept • Water Supply and Drainage Board • NGOs, SL Red Cross Society • Universities • NSF • RDA, PRDAs • UNDP / UN Agencies • District / Divisional Secretariats • Provincial Councils & LAs • DMC • Atomic Energy Authority • Colombo Municipal Council • Central Environmental Authority • Ceylon Electricity Board • Coast Conservation Dept • Dept. of Agriculture • Fire Service Dept. • Irrigation Dept. • Mahaweli Authority • Health Sector Agencies • Dept. of Meteorology • Ministry of Finance & Planning • Urban Development Authority • National Planning Department • Department of Social Services • NARA • NBRO

14. Disaster Risk Management Approach by DMC Developing a Road Map Through consultative process which is the Guide for DRM activities in the country for next 10 years – for donors as well as other stakeholders

15. Areas covered • NDM Policy, Mandate & Institutional Development • Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment • Mult-Hazard Early Warning System • Planinig for Disaster Preparedness and Response • Disaster Mitigation and Integration in to Development • Community Based DRM • Public Awareness , Education & Training

16. Disaster Response Activities • Establishment of Early Warning Centre • Tsunami • Multihazard • Development of Prepared Plan • Establish 24/7 Emergency Operating Centre

17. Community Based Disaster Preparedness Programme • 15 District Disaster Management Coordinators to liaise and coordinate with Chief Secretaries, District Secretariats, Divisional Secretaries, Police and Forces, Local Authorities and Grama Niladaries, Civil Societies etc. • Coordinate and implement Community Based Awareness Programme, Capacity Building, Risk Reduction, Community Contingency Plans & Evacuation from vulnerable areas. • DMC will initially focus on Tsunami affected districts and gradually concentrate in other vulnerable districts to hazards such as floods, cyclones, landslides, dam safety, droughts etc.

18. Coordination with International agencies & NGOs DMC will serve as the national focal point and coordinating body for all • International fora related to disaster risk reduction; • Initiatives of development and donor agencies and • NGOs and INGOs

19. Present & Future Activities of DMC • Conducting Awareness Programmes at national and district levels • Community based Disaster Preparedness Programme • Formulation of National Day on Disaster Management • Establishment of Emergency Operation Centres & Resource Network at provincial and district levels • Development of National Disaster Management Plan and National Emergency Operation Plan • Preparation of Preparedness and Response plans at agency, PC, LA, Districts, Divisional and GN levels

20. Awareness Programmes at National and District levels – contd.. • TV documentary films named “Tsunami” and “Kumarilage Kathawa” to be shown on Rupavahini. • District Disaster Management Coordinators are conducting awareness programmes in villages in Hambantota, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Gampaha, Puttlam and Ampara • Printing and distributing one million leaflets on Tsunami. • NSF is planning to conduct School Awareness Programmes in all Tsunami affected districts. • NSF launched a book on Tsunami – “Muhuda Kaluwuna”. • NSF has telecast a Video films on Tsunami. • NSF is planning to develop 7 video films on Disasters.

21. Disaster Preparedness & Response Plans at other levels • At District, Division & GN levels • At Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas • At National Ministries & Provincial Councils • In departments • In schools • In communities

22. Thank You !!!