Date: 20th February 2025
Location: Ambasewana City Hotel, Kegalle, Sri Lanka
Building Resilient Communities Through Early Warning Systems
Building on the success of the Disaster Risk Management workshop in Hambantota the Sri Lanka Preparedness Partnership (SLPP), in collaboration with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and Janathakshan GTE Ltd., successfully conducted a Subnational Stakeholder Consultation Workshop in Kegalle on 20th February 2025. The event, held at Ambasewana City Hotel, brought together key stakeholders from government institutions, local authorities, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to discuss the upgrading of the community-based Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) in the Dehiovita, Ruwanwella, and Yatiyantota Divisional Secretariat (DS) Divisions.
The workshop is part of the Asian Disaster Readiness Fund (ADRF); an innovative financing mechanism under the Asian Preparedness Partnership to strengthen forecast-based, locally led early warning systems in Sri Lanka’s disaster-prone regions, ensuring at-risk communities receive timely alerts and can take preventive action.
The Need for Enhanced Flood Early Warning Systems
Kegalle district is highly vulnerable to recurring floods and landslides, particularly in areas such as Dehiovita, Ruwanwella, and Yatiyantota. The existing flood early warning mechanisms face gaps in data accuracy, inter-agency coordination, and timely communication, making it difficult to ensure effective disaster response. The workshop aimed to address these challenges by enhancing coordination, improving data-sharing mechanisms, and upgrading communication infrastructure.
The initiative aligns with the National Disaster Management Plan (2023-2030) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), ensuring a proactive and community-centered approach to flood preparedness.
Objectives of the Workshop
The workshop aimed to:
- Raise awareness about SLPP’s disaster risk reduction initiatives and their impact on Kegalle district.
- Upgrade and localize FEWS to ensure timely and effective flood risk communication.
- Identify and mitigate unrecognized disaster risks within the district.
- Strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration for improved disaster preparedness.
- Empower local communities with tools and knowledge for proactive disaster response.
Key Sessions and Discussions
The workshop featured expert presentations, discussions, and interactive group sessions, including:
- Welcome & Opening Remarks: Delivered by Mr. Anura Viraj Dissanayake, Deputy Director (Acting), DMC Kegalle. He emphasized the significance of the Sri Lanka Preparedness Partnership (SLPP) initiatives, particularly its focus on Kegalle District. Stressing the urgent need to upgrade the existing community-based Flood Early Warning System (FEWS), he underscored its importance in ensuring timely and effective flood risk communication and response, ultimately enhancing the safety and resilience of local communities
- Special Remarks: Additional District Secretary of Kegalle emphasized the importance of inter-agency coordination for effective disaster response.
- Keynote Speech: Mr. Chathura Liyanaarachchi, Director of Preparedness Planning, DMC Sri Lanka, outlined the strategic role of SLPP in national disaster risk reduction efforts.
- District Risk Profile Presentation: A comprehensive flood risk analysis utilizing GIS mapping and historical flood data. The profile highlighted various hazards, including flooding, landslides, and environmental damage, along with their impacts over the years. Specific areas of vulnerability were identified, particularly those prone to heavy rainfall, soil erosion, and flooding.
- SLPP Project Brief & Way Forward: Presentation by Ms. Buddhima Gunarathna, Project Manager, Janathakshan GTE Ltd., outlining technical upgrades and implementation plans.
- Group Work & Open Discussion: Participants identified challenges, solutions, and next steps for strengthening local flood preparedness.
Stakeholder Participation Breakdown
Findings and Key Recommendations
Through interactive group discussions, stakeholders identified critical challenges and proposed actionable solutions for flood risk reduction in Kegalle:
- Challenges Identified:
- Inefficient flood early warning dissemination to last-mile communities.
- Lack of coordination between local authorities and disaster response agencies.
- Poor maintenance of flood monitoring infrastructure.
- Unregulated construction in flood-prone areas, exacerbating flood risks.
- Recommended Actions:
- Upgrade flood monitoring infrastructure, including real-time rain gauges and river-level sensors.
- Establish community-led flood early warning committees in high-risk areas.
- Strengthen coordination mechanisms between government agencies, CSOs, and the private sector.
- Improve public awareness campaigns on flood preparedness and risk mitigation.
Expected Outcomes and Next Steps
As an outcome of the workshop, SLPP will:
- Implement a standardized flood early warning protocol for the Kegalle district.
- Support local authorities in strengthening FEWS infrastructure and response mechanisms.
- Launch awareness and capacity-building programs for community responders and local officials.
- Ensure continuous monitoring and evaluation of disaster preparedness initiatives.
“The Disaster Management Center is fully dedicated to promoting community-driven early warning systems and ensuring their long-term sustainability. This can only be achieved through strong collaboration and support from local government institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector. By strengthening existing capacities, we empower communities to adapt to evolving climate risks, while integrating forecast-based early warning systems will enhance timely and effective response measures.”
Mr. Chathura Liyanaarchchi,
Director Preparedness Planning, DMC, Sri Lanka
