Details

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 17 May 2017

17 May 2017

Last Updated: 02 November 2023

Deputy Director (Disaster Management Unit)
	Name	Mr.C.Amaraweera
	Tel	066-2230926
	Fax	066-2117117
	Email	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Introduction

Disaster Management Center is the premier Disaster Management Agency in Sri Lanka and the institution is responsible for implementing and coordinating national and sub-national level disaster mitigation programs with the participation of all stakeholders.

Disaster Management Centers were established as the Executive Body of the National Council for Disaster Management (NCDM) in accordance with the provisions of the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005.

The initial activities of the Disaster Management Center are to carry out research and development activities, minimizing and maintaining prepared plans, early warning for people at risk and emergency response in collaboration with other major agencies.

Disaster Management Committees have been established island wide at the district, divisional and Grama Niladhari level to facilitate the implementation and coordination of all disaster management activities. In addition, District Disaster Management Coordinating Units (DDMCUs) were established in all districts to carry out disaster risk mitigation activities at the sub-national level.

Vision

A Sri Lanka with a secure community and sustainable development

Mission

To create a safe culture for all communities and nations by avoiding all forms of natural, technological and man-made disasters through proper management.

Basic Activities of the Disaster Management Center under the Disaster Management Act

• Assist the National Council in formulating the National Disaster Management Plan and National Disaster Management Plan and make proposals to update it when necessary.
• Assuming responsibility for the implementation of the National Disaster Management Plan and the National Emergency Operation and directing and coordinating the implementation of the National Disaster Action Plan on the declaration of a state of emergency.

• Ensuring that various disaster management plans prepared by Ministries, Government Departments or Public Corporations are in line with the National Disaster Management Plan.
• Disaster Management Plans prepared by various Ministries, Government Departments and Public Corporations under Article 10, as well as planning and implementation of programs under the areas of Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Prevention, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Activities Coordinating with the agencies implementing such plans and programms, obtaining financial assistance from the Treasury for such activities, releasing those funds to the relevant areas, monitoring and evaluating the activities.
• Providing advice and guidance to appropriate agencies, NGOs, District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries regarding disaster management activities and initiating and maintaining active programs in coordination with such agencies and secretariats.
• Promoting research and development programs on disaster management and developing and maintaining a database on disaster management.
• Submitting reports to the National Council for Disaster Management from time to time when required for information on the activities of the Disaster Management Center.
• This Act provides a comprehensive framework for Disaster Risk Management, which will move away from the response-based mechanism and make disaster risk management more effective in Sri Lanka.

This Act provides a comprehensive framework for Disaster Risk Management, which will move away from the response-based mechanism and make disaster risk management more effective in Sri Lanka.

According to the Act, the following hazards fall into the category of disaster management.

• Floods
• Landslides
• Industrial hazards
• Tsunami (shock waves)
• Earthquakes
• Air accidents
• Fires
• Epidemic diseases
• Explosions
• Plane crashes
• Civil or internal conflicts
• Chemical accidents
• Radiation hazards
• Oil spills
• Nuclear disasters
• Urban fires and wildfires
• Coastal erosion
• Tornadoes, lightning strikes and powerful lightning strikes

The Disaster Management Center has been established under the National Institute of Disaster Management since July 2005 and implementation under His Excellency the President.

The Ministry of Disaster Management was established in December 2005 under the Hon. Prime Minister. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights was established in February 2006, listing the subject, including the subject of human rights. According to the Extraordinary Gazette Notification issued in February 2006, the National Disaster Management Council, the Disaster Management Center and the Meteorological Department fall under the purview of this Ministry. In 2010, the National Relief Services Center was transferred to the Ministry of Disaster Management and renamed as the Ministry of Disaster Management.

According to the Gazette Notification, the Disaster Management Functions implemented by the Disaster Management Center are as follows:

• Launch and coordinate foreign aided projects for disaster mitigation, response and recovery.
• Liaise with Ministries, Government Authorities and Agencies, Private Sector Agencies, NGOs and International NGOs and all other agencies to ensure that their responsibilities are carried out within a specified time frame.
• Coordinating and managing natural and man-made disaster relief activities
• Coordinating awareness programs on natural disasters and man-made disasters.
• Maintain early warning systems.
• Overseeing the activities of NGOs and the activities of voluntary organizations for social welfare in relation to disaster management, relief arrangements and human rights promotion.

The following are the activities that Support for coordination and monitoring performed by NGOs and NGOs in the field of Disaster Management and Human Rights Island wide at the level of Ministries, Departments, Public Corporations, Provincial Councils and Local Government Institutions and at District, Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari Divisions,

• Hazard mapping and risk assessment
• Information Management
• Disaster mitigation
• Distribution of early warnings
• Preparing for an effective response in the event of a disaster
• Emergency Operations Management
• Post-disaster disaster management