Responding to Disaster Situations UWL Chandradasa Responding to Disaster Situations UWL Chandradasa Disaster Management Centre

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

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

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.”

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agencies Involved in the DRM activities 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 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

Disaster Risk Management Approach by DMC D eveloping 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

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

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

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.

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 Coordination with International agencies & NGOs

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

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.

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