The Government of Sri Lanka, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have announced a new initiative to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster risk management systems, moving towards more proactive, coordinated and risk-informed preparedness and anticipatory action.

The 24-month Strengthening Sri Lanka’s Disaster Risk Management Framework project is funded by the European Union through its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and implemented by UNDP in Sri Lanka, together with the Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Defence, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and Save the Children International.

The initiative was announced at a recent inception workshop attended by representatives of Government institutions, the European Union, UNDP, national stakeholders and development partners to discuss its objectives, planned activities and implementation arrangements.

Sri Lanka remains highly exposed to climate-induced hazards, including floods, landslides, cyclones, extreme rainfall, droughts and coastal hazards. Recent disasters have highlighted the need for stronger coordination, better preparedness and timely action following early warnings, with effective systems extending from national institutions to local communities.

The project will follow a two-pronged approach, strengthening the policy, institutional and operational foundations of disaster risk management at national level while developing and testing a government-led preparedness and anticipatory action model at sub-national level, complementing other ongoing projects.

At national level, UNDP will work with the Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Defence, the Disaster Management Centre, the National Disaster Relief Services Centre and other relevant institutions to improve coordination and operational preparedness.

Activities will include reviewing Sri Lanka’s disaster risk management legal, institutional and coordination arrangements, strengthening standard operating procedures and warning-to-action mechanisms, and integrating anticipatory action more systematically into existing disaster management systems.

Highlighting the leadership of the Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Mahinda Gunaratne, Director General–Planning, said emergency response and relief remained essential, but greater emphasis must also be placed on anticipating risks, preparing in advance and ensuring early warnings lead to appropriate and timely action.

He stressed that effective disaster risk management depended on clear institutional responsibilities, strong coordination mechanisms, effective operational procedures and the active participation of communities, rather than the efforts of any single institution.

Mr Pradeep Kodippili, Director–Training and Awareness of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), said the project offered an important opportunity to review existing disaster management arrangements, strengthen coordination and enhance preparedness capacities at national and local levels.

He added that practical interventions in selected communities would help identify lessons and good practices that could strengthen preparedness efforts across the country.

At sub-national level, the project will develop and pilot a consolidated, government-led disaster risk management model designed for wider application across Sri Lanka.

The pilot activities will take place in the Badulla and Matara districts, working with local government authorities, schools and communities to improve preparedness planning, early-warning dissemination, coordination mechanisms, simulation exercises and early action.

Save the Children International will lead implementation of this component, supporting the development, piloting and institutionalisation of the local disaster risk management model in collaboration with district and divisional authorities, schools, communities and other local stakeholders.

The project is expected to directly benefit approximately 3,260 community members in the two pilot locations and engage approximately 3,200 government officials and technical personnel nationwide.

Particular attention will be given to gender-responsive, age-sensitive and disability-inclusive preparedness, including accessible risk communication and more inclusive preparedness planning to ensure that different groups are considered.

Commenting on the European Union’s support to Sri Lanka, Ms Seuwandi Yapa, Programme Manager–Cooperation Section of the Delegation of the European Union in Sri Lanka, said disaster preparedness was a critical investment in protecting lives, livelihoods and development gains.

Through DG ECHO, the EU supports efforts to strengthen preparedness, improve risk-informed planning and promote anticipatory approaches that enable authorities and communities to act before a crisis escalates.

Ms Marina Ten, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka, highlighted that recovery from Cyclone Ditwah offered an opportunity not only to rebuild but also to strengthen the systems that protect communities from future disasters.

With the EU’s support, UNDP is working alongside Government partners and Save the Children International to translate lessons from recovery into practical reforms, clarify institutional responsibilities, strengthen coordination and improve local preparedness and early-warning systems.

She emphasised the importance of lasting, nationally owned solutions that reach the most vulnerable communities and embed resilience in Sri Lanka’s development.

Lessons emerging from Badulla and Matara will feed into national coordination and policy processes, while national guidance and reforms will be translated into practical preparedness measures at community level.

The project is designed to strengthen existing Government systems rather than establish parallel structures.

By connecting institutional reforms with practical preparedness at community level, the initiative aims to help Sri Lanka better anticipate future shocks, reduce disaster risks and protect vulnerable communities.

The work, in other words, must begin long before the water comes.