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| Sunday, 5 January 2003 |
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New Act for Natural Disaster Management by Jayampathy Jayasinghe The government is to present a Bill in Parliament on January 7 to set up a National Council for Natural Disaster Management which incorporates a National Disaster Centre and a Disaster Management plan. The Bill will be presented in Parliament by Social Welfare Minister, Ravindra Samaraweera, Social Welfare Ministry's Secretary Mrs. V. Jegarasaingam told the "Sunday Observer". She said already a centre for National Disaster (Natural) had been set up in 1996 with the approval of the Cabinet and is housed at the Social Welfare Ministry. A sum of Rs. 5 million is allocated every year for purposes of training officials from the Divisional Secretariat and NGOs in work related to Natural Disaster Preparedness. The new Act will be known as the Sri Lanka Disaster Counter-Measures Act which will come into operation once ratified by Parliament. The Act will be applicable when human life, property and the environment of the country is being threatened due to natural disasters taking place in the country. The Act will also include provisions for the setting up of a technical advisory committee, a disaster management plan, declaration of a state of emergency, awarding of compensation another measures in Disaster Management. Under the new Act the President is empowered to declare a state of disaster on her own volition or on the advice of the council by proclamation when there is disaster which is beyond the resources of the administration. The Prime Minister will function as the Chairman of the National Council for Disaster Management. The Council will draw up policies and programs for preparedness for disaster, emergencies, risk reduction planning and prevention and mitigation of disasters. The following ministries have been included in the Council for National Disaster Management - Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Environment, Home Affairs, Health, Provincial Councils, Science and Technology, Housing and Construction, Fisheries, Irrigation, Power and Energy. In addition the Deputy Ministers of Defence and Finance and the Chief Ministers of every Provincial Council will also be in the Council. |
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