“Where Ruin Meets Resolve A Path Few Dare to Walk”

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC), in partnership with the Department of National Planning (NPD) and key national and international development partners, is leading Sri Lanka’s Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). The process is systematically collecting, analysing, and evaluating data on physical damage, economic losses, and social impacts across all affected sectors, in line with an established timeline.
On 27 February, the PDNA Committee convened at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for a high-level validation session, chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd). The session focused on endorsing evidence-based assessments to support the formulation of a comprehensive national recovery framework. The deputy minister highlighted that data integrity is paramount to ensure reconstruction efforts reach the most vulnerable populations.
The validated PDNA report will serve as the official roadmap for Sri Lanka’s shift towards sustainable development. It provides a detailed account of the financing required to restore essential services, including education, healthcare, and water, sanitation, and hygiene systems (WASH) that were affected during the disaster. The final report, which will guide the national disaster reconstruction budget, is scheduled for official handover in the latter part of March 2026.
The session was attended by the Director General of the DMC, senior committee members, and technical experts, reflecting a collaborative effort to ensure that recovery is both strategic and inclusive.