Sri Lanka launches EU-funded disaster preparedness project in Badulla and Matara

The Government of Sri Lanka, the European Union, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a disaster preparedness project to improve risk management systems in the Badulla and Matara districts.

The European Union funded the 24-month initiative through its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). The UNDP manages the project alongside the Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Defence, the Disaster Management Centre, and Save the Children International.

The project aims to build better early-warning systems, emergency planning, and coordination mechanisms at the local level. Save the Children International leads the district-level work by partnering with schools, local authorities, and communities to test a disaster management model. At the national level, the project focuses on reviewing disaster management laws and improving how government agencies coordinate to ensure warnings result in quick action. The initiative specifically targets vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.

The project follows the recovery from Cyclone Ditwah. Marina Ten, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, stated that the initiative will focus on sustainable solutions to protect communities from future climate-related disasters. Seuwandi Yapa, the EU Programme Manager for Cooperation in Sri Lanka, noted that these investments are necessary to protect lives and development gains.