Move to mitigate impact of disasters

Adapting and coping with changes in climatic and weather patterns is important. Lack of preparedness and growing uncertainty over weather patterns is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with at all levels - village and national.

"Weather patterns have changed, and unexpected weather related disasters have increased. My Ministry focuses on increased preparedness and improving early warning systems," said Minister for Disaster Management, Mahinda Amaraweera at the symposium on Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change, organised by the Global Environmental Facility's Small Grants Program (GEF/SGP) of the UNDP, recently.

The symposium brought together over 150 people from rural areas, community-based and civil society organisations working on climate change adaptation projects, to share experiences and knowledge. Researchers, practitioners, policy makers and donors from across Sri Lanka were present.

Island nations such as Sri Lanka are vulnerable to climate change. The impact of frequent weather related disasters and climate change could seriously set back development targets for sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and even services such as tourism.

The GEF/SGP, with support from the Australian Government's Overseas Aid Program (AusAID) has provided financial assistance to communities to implement climate change adaptation projects at local and regional level.

Amaraweera stressed the need to create awareness and improve knowledge, especially among schoolchildren and women, to mitigate the impact of disasters. "Today we have leaders here, we need you to take this message to villages and to schools, to enhance their knowledge as we work towards building a safer Sri Lanka."

He commended the UNDP for supporting such efforts and said the Government has taken the initiative to mitigate the impact of disasters.

"Recent changes in weather patterns have caused billions in losses and damage," said Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. Batagoda, "The Treasury allocated Rs. 60 billion for flood control and flood damage in 2010 and 2011.

"Reconstructed roads and bridges were damaged due to unexpected and intense rainfall. In 2012, due to drought, we could only produce 18% of electricity through hydro power," he said.

UNDP Country Director in Sri Lanka, Ms. Razina Bilgrami said that supporting the sustainable development agenda by providing technical assistance and capacity building support to further national development goals is a priority of UNDP's work in Sri Lanka.

"The GEF Small Grants Program has a history of 15 years in Sri Lanka working through some 300 partners in their geographical area, and has played a key role in taking the benefits of environmentally sustainable development to local communities and therefore has a wealth of experience to share," she said.