Bridging Disaster and Development in Sri Lanka

Cyclone hit the electricity towers

2008-08-14T05:34:00.000-07:00

Today afternoon (14th Aug), Cyclone damages 5 electricity towers in line to Trincomalee,
leaves most Trincomalee areas without power.

International Water Day 2008

2008-04-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

The Green Movement of Sri Lanka organized a colourful and high impact demonstration to mark International Water Day and protest against its privatization. We have been heavily involved in campaigning to receive equitable and free access to this natural life source and vehemently disagree with its value as a commodity. This campaign was held outside parliament over the first day, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on the second day for maximum results. Sri Lanka has its own elaborate and extremely effective water system which has been managed for centuries and maintained and shared communally. Clear entitlement rules, along with effective distribution and access, ensured community benefit and co-operation, with different communities using different ways as they know best. More recently, however, multi national companies and international financial institutions have attempted to manipulate nature’s gifts to their own benefit. From the ‘development’ and ‘conservation’ disguise, they are marketing water as something to be controlled, bought and sold in order to curb predicted future shortages. In reality, community owned water will become corporate, and shortages will be in terms of access and entitlement, with everyday local people suffering. Privatization began in the 1990’s and is big business, with annual profits of $400 billion. The key players in South Asia are the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, who impose policy conditions for privatization of water in return for financial help. This is already penetrating into Sri Lankan life, with policy documents and arrangements being drafted, and widespread ‘experiments’ adverrsly affecting rural communities.

The Greens demonstrated their ideas to the general public and engaged them in a sharing and learning experience where people found out about IWMI’s intentions and the threat of privatization. Most people who stopped did not know anything about the water issue, therefore the campaign was a huge success in terms of alerting people to the truth, and giving them the tools to address this.

Flash floods displace thousands in war-torn area

2008-03-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

Flash floods displace thousands in war-torn area

Photo: OCHA

COLOMBO, 20 March 2008 (IRIN) - More than 50,000 people have been hit by flooding in northwestern Mannar District in Sri Lanka since 12 March, the government said. The area has witnessed intense clashes between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the last six months, restricting access to relief agencies.

Flooding caused by torrential rains has affected 173,909 people in nine districts of the country, including 120,000 in the eastern Batticaloa District, and left five dead, the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) said on 19 March.

“Floods have caused immense damage to affected areas, interrupting all economic and social activities,” the NDRSC stated in a situation report. “It is also reported that there is tremendous damage to infrastructure facilities in the areas [of Mannar]. About 14,010 families or 54,323 people have been affected.”

The report also stated that 40 houses had been destroyed and 155 damaged in the eight districts. The NDRSC said the government had allocated three million rupees (US$27,000) as emergency funds for affected districts and Rs2 million ($18,000) for Mannar District.

Crops damaged

Initial assessment reports by the NDRSC said damage to crops could be high as the rains came just before the harvesting season.

“There are 12,000 acres of paddy land that were to be harvested when the floods hit,” A Nicholaspillai, the government agent for Mannar, told IRIN. “We still don’t have exact figures, but damage to the harvest is something we will have to deal with.”
Nicholaspillai also said seed would have to be provided to farmers for the upcoming season.

Officials of the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC) said there were indications of damage to crops in at least one other southern district. “The initial reports we have indicate that there have been significant crop losses in the southern district of Badulla,” Merik Peiris, executive director, communications and humanitarian values at the SLRC, told IRIN.

Government officials in Mannar told IRIN they had began distributing relief items and were awaiting assessment reports to decide on additional assistance. “We started distributing meals almost as soon as the first displacements were reported over the weekend,” Nicholaspillai told IRIN. “We have made initial plans to continue the distribution for three days at least.”

Restricted access

Increasing clashes between government forces and the LTTE along the line of control in Mannar District and other security concerns had already restricted access to the district before the latest flooding.

“Since 4 February, access has been restricted to vehicles north of Madawachchiya checkpoint, creating additional challenges for civilian travel across Mannar District,” the Inter-Agency Standing Committee stated in a situation report released on 15 March.

However, Peiris said the SLRC did not foresee the security restrictions limiting the relief effort in Mannar. “We already have a network there and plan to work through government agencies.”

He added that while the immediate needs of the victims, such as cooked food and clothes, would be provided, SLRC would need additional assistance, such as non-food items, as the flood waters receded and the displaced began returning home.

“There will be lot of demand for dry rations and baby food after they return home,” he said. “We also will have to look at health concerns and loss of livelihoods.”

FLOOD SITUATION REPORT IN THE DRY ZONE OF SRI LANKA

2008-03-14T04:56:00.000-07:00

According to the 12^th March announcement from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), some areas in the Trincomalee and Anuradhapura Districts were inundated following torrential rain, but no flood victims had been reported so far. The Divaina local newspaper reported that the affected areas are Nelsanpura, Sumedhankarapura, Thulsipura, 3 mile post and Trincomalee, with approximately 1000 families being displaced in the Trincomalee district.

The Island Newspaper on 13th March reported that 20 large reserovoirs in the dry zone have had to open their sluice gates in order to release water. These reservoirs are situated in the Anuradhapura, Badulla, Kurunegala, Batticaloa, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts.

The following table shows the tank's in Anuradhapura that are close to or have reached their maximum water level:

Name of Tank	Maximum Level	Present Water Level
Rajanganaya	35.0	34.50
Kalaweva	424.0	424.16
Nachchaduwa	25.0	25.0

The DMC have warned of ‘imminent’ landslides in the districts of Badulla and Ratnapura, as stated in the Daily Mirror on 14^th March. A minor landslide has already taken place in the Badulla DS area.

Farmers organizations are predicting a massive problem for harvesting activities as much harvested paddy is being destroyed, and that which is growing is of immediate risk. Hundred’s of acres of paddy land is under water, with entire harvests wiped out.
These figures can be seen below:

Number of Acres	Affected District
1867 acres	Muttur
2 acres	Ralkuli
Over 400 acres	Moraweva
Over 3000 acres	Tissamaharama

Badulla District DMC reported the closing of the Ella- Wellawaya road due to a landslide, causing the death of 2 people, and damaging 178 houses.

TSUNAMI AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHERN COAST

2008-03-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

TSUNAMI AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHERN COAST

KALAMETIYA GREEN VILLAGE

Since the DMIP are now responsible for managing the long term rehabilitation and recovery of tsunami affected communities, we are evaluating the progress, needs and problems from our resettlement villages. We went to Kalametiya, which is a well known successful model of a self sustaining and environmentally friendly community. Our observations were that although the majority had a good income generation, they were still dependent on the GMSL. We aim to increase their self motivation, capacity and sense of ownership and responsibility to manage their own lives. We held an effective participatory learning and action workshop to establish problems as well as looking towards solving them. 16 short term problems were found and many of the solutions were rooted in community contribution and effort.

HANGURANKETHA REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

2008-03-01T11:04:00.000-08:00

HANGURANKETHA REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

Nearly 200 families have moved to their new site, but many have returned to their original lands, despite it being at risk. It seems evident that the new site is unsuitable and could be prone to landslides, yet the DS division are ignorant to this fact, stating the risk as commonplace to Nuwara Eliya. Due to this, the GMSL are undertaking a swift and effective lobbying and advocacy role, to re-assess the suitability of the site and challenge the DS with findings from the NBRO and DMC. They are still without any water and sanitation facilities but the GMSL are currently securing funding for this and the community is under negotiation with the host families to share water from a nearby lake.

LANDSLIDE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN NEWARA ELIYA

2008-03-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

LANDSLIDE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN NEWARA ELIYA

WALAPANE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

The people of Walapane who suffered from last years landslides, have mobilised themselves to improve their living conditions in the camp. As they await resettlement, they have begun to construct a study room, and are receiving a water supply as well as electricity. This was done under the guidance of the GMSL but was predominantly carried out by the community themselves, with material assistance from the DS. They have been lobbying and advocating for new land, especially since a small number of families were recently arrested for moving to land they had found themselves. 3 representatives from Walapane met with the Environmental Ministry to discuss whether they could release some of the 500 acres of land discovered that belongs to the wildlife department. This is still in discussion but the outcome looks extremely positive.

Walapane again vulnerable to landslides

2008-03-01T02:12:00.000-08:00

One Year On...

Due to the land slides caused on the 12th of
January 2007, almost 3000 families have been
displaced and have been living in temporary
shelters facing severe hardships.
Their request was neither well built houses nor
big scale funding. It was only a land on which to
cultivate and to live without dependence. They
managed this request based on their own capacity
and initiative of building their own houses.
The government continuously stated that they
would provide suitable lands for the victims
to rebuild their houses and issued many statements
that new land had been allocated. Yet
the communities still waited, uninformed,
disempowered and disillusioned. When there
seemed to be no alternatives, families took it
upon themeselves to find a solution. 8 families
from the Walapane temporary shelters entered
the Keerti-Bandarapura environmental conservation
area on February 24, 2008 and were
subsequently arrested by the police. They were
taken to the Nuwara Eliya magistrate and will
appear in court on the 29th of February 2008.

According to details from the Walapane DS office,
313 families are still living in 12 temporary
shelters and many others are living in their relatives’
homes and other places.
Although the government has informed them
not to resettle in their original lands as they
are vulnerable to landslides, they haven’t taken
any action to provide lands from more suitable
areas.
The dry rations that were provided by the government
has stopped and steps have been taken
to regain this much needed relief.
Most of the affected people who were agriculturalists
have had to take labouring work in
urban areas, leaving their wives and children in
the camps.

Problems

Living in temporary shelters has caused physical
and mental problems, especially for the women
and children.
Lack of sanitation
The tents which were given very recently are
not suitable for the present climatic conditions.

At present 16 hectares were found by the DS
office and demarcating process has been slowly
going on.

Recommendations

The resettlement process should be accelerated.
Land selection should be done under the guidance
and supervision of the NBRO.
New livelihoods and existing livelihoods should
be linked with the resettlement process.
Community participation shoud be enhanced.

Situation in Jaffna

2008-02-10T01:49:00.000-08:00

Taken from HIC Sri Lanka situation report

JAFFNA DISTRICT
Situation update
• The security situation in Jaffna remains tense with audible and sporadic outgoing daily shelling. On 28 Jan, there was an escalation with heavy exchanges
at the FDL, resulting in the cancellation of all civilian flights. The situation has since returned to occasional outgoing shelling. The airport at Palali is open.
Displacement/Returns
• A new small scale displacement took place in Chavakachcheri DS Division following the intensification of shelling/artillery in the vicinity of the FDL on 21
Jan. However, most of the displaced population has since returned to their places of origin as the situation calmed.
• The Jaffna GA is planning to facilitate a return of 19 IDP families to Allaipidi, Velanai DS Division (Kayts Island). Agencies have expressed some concerns
about the current security situation on the island, but authorities have reiterated their intention to organize this return in accordance with the Guiding
Principles on Internal Displacement.
• UNHCR continues to monitor IDPs living at Temporary Accommodation Centres. 11 TACs remain functional – five in Karaveddy, three in Chavakachcheri,
and three in Jaffna.

Misconstructions of our vital work hampers aid effectiveness and endangers our workers

2008-02-05T21:15:00.000-08:00

A study has been carried out by the Feinstein International Centre which looks at the issues of universality, terrorism, coherence and security in relation to the humanitarian enterprise in Sri Lanka. The centre publicises its research on the politics and policy of aiding the vulnerable carried out by humanitarian workers across the globe. It has indicated that there is a worrying negative perception of our kind of work being regarded as a ‘self serving enterprise’ (Humanitarian Agenda 2015). The tsunami experience of money flooding in but no one really seeing where it was going was the foundation to this perception. Now with the ongoing conflict, there is widespread suspicion that agencies are using humanitarian action to pursue other agendas, especially pro- LTTE leanings. We have to be very clear about our mandates and communicate them in order that local political interests don’t misconstruct our work. At this crucial time we need the support of our government, our people and the international community to carry out the vital work of emergency response and rehabilitation. The study concluded that the negative construction of our work has hampered the delivery and effectiveness of assistance. It has also endangered the lives of aid workers. It states that ‘humanitarian engagement in Sri Lanka is likely to become increasingly dangerous and difficult unless international actors become more aware about how they are being politically manipulated and can better communicate their mission so as to counter this negative view constructed in order to further local interests’. Let us be aware and unite to work meaningfully and safely to serve our people.
(for full report please see http://fic.tufts.edu/?pid=10)

Sri Lanka: 187,500 Internally Displaced Persons

2008-02-01T07:39:00.000-08:00

Updated figures of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka as of 31 December 2007 of those IDP movements after 7 April 2006, has been established to be 187,850 persons. Of this number, 31,843 still remain in welfare centres or temporary accommodation centres, while 156,007 are said to live with friends and relatives. However, numbers given for Killinochchi, Mullativu and the Southern part of Jaffna cannot be verified.

This data is contained in a compilation published on 17 January 2008 by the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, the Ministry of Nation Building and Development and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The table below lists the figures on a District wise basis:

District	IDPs in Welfare Centres and Temporary Accommodation Centres	IDPs with Friends and Relatives	Total
Jaffna	857	30,180	31,037
Kilinochchi	3,737	44,810	48,547
Mullativu	923	31,173	32,096
Mannar	9,660	13,884	23,544
Vavuniya	281	10,362	10,643
Trincomalee	3,753	2,218	5,971
Batticaloa	10,041	16,471	26,512
Ampara	87	5,608	5,695
Puttalam	2,371	551	2,922
Anuradhapura	-	486	486
Polonnaruwa	133	47	180
Gampaha	-	213	213
Kegalle	-	4	4
Grand Total	31,843	156,007	187,850

The government is committed to settling back all IDPs in their original homes. In the Eastern Province alone, over 108,000 IDPs have already returned to their homes since March 2007, and only 38,178 persons are living in welfare centres or temporary accommodation or with friends and relatives. Most of them have been held back due to the need for the clearance of landmines.

The settlement of IDPs back in their homes has been a voluntary process and it has been undertaken according to international standards. This has been acknowledged by the international community including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme(WFP).

- Asian Tribune -

Italy to help rebuild disaster prone areas

2008-01-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

The Italian Government will provide a Rs. 750 million Aid package to Sri Lanka to rebuild and develop areas which have been prone to natural and man-made disasters and to improve technical efficiency of the disaster management process.

The Italians have agreed to help Sri Lanka in their disaster management efforts. This is after the recent visit of Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe.

Accordingly an agreement was signed by Sri Lanka with the Civil Defence Organisation of Italy, in the presence of President Giorgio Napolitano.

Under the agreement this organisation has agreed to furnish Rs.450 million for development projects initiated by Disaster Management Centre and Rs.300 million as technical aid. Ministry sources said the money would be utilised for development as well as technical aid programmes for officials in sectors such as disaster management, meteorology, nation building and research, irrigation, coastal development and geological survey and mines sector.

According to these sources the said Rs. 450 million had been granted on a special request by the Minister to start flood control projects for flood-prone areas such as Batticaloa, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla. Minister Samarasinghe on his visit had also taken steps to brief the Italian President, Foreign Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding the situation in Sri Lanka.

The Minister held extensive discussions regarding the CFA abbrogation and Human Rights situation in view of eliminating misconceptions. (Daily News)

World Social Forum of Sri Lanka 2008

2008-01-27T05:33:00.001-08:00

World Social Forum of Sri Lanka 2008

An incredibly uplifting forum was held on Saturday 26^th January in Vihara Mahadevi Park, Colombo, coinciding with other actions and mobilisations around the world. The central theme was that ‘Another world is possible!’ It was open to anyone as a free space for reflexive thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and an interlinking for effective action (WSF 2008 Programme). Many groups and movements came together, including the Green Movement to unite on three fronts:

Ø to affirm our opposition to the war that has torn apart our country for almost 25 years, militarising society and traumatising communities

Ø to affirm our opposition to the economic policies that burden our people raising the price of essential goods to unaffordable levels, destroying livelihoods and impoverishing the poor

Ø to resist capitalist globalisation and the development model that imposes on our country bringing enormous costs to the environment and the poor and benefits only a tiny minority (WSF 2008 Programme).

Many organisations gathered to share information and had creative workshops spreading awareness. There were so many themes, such as women and peace, the housing crisis, the rising cost of living, protecting livelihoods, the conflict, environmental costs of development and peacebuilding. The media unit of the Green Movement set up a tent where 9 short films and videos were screened. These videos touched upon crucial issues such as the oil crisis, global warming, energy efficiency and work that our organisation has been involved with. We had a very tangible presence, with huge banners created by our talented photographers capturing scenes of Sri Lanka strung out across a massive banyan tree and the stadium. Our green brigade volunteers were there, cycling through the stadium, park and main road with flags and banners with powerful messages. We also had the pleasure of a group of veddha’s with whom we work, who joined us for the day, playing music and doing a cultural performance outside the tent. It was a very successful day that created much positive feedback on the work we are doing and the work we will continue to do with likeminded people.

How to prioritise Global Warming amongst a myriad of other critical issues in Sri Lanka?

2008-01-27T05:31:00.000-08:00

There has been so much focus and reports written, meetings held and world conferences to address the threats that are coming with global warming. It is clear that the world is changing drastically and measures need to be taken now, but how on earth do global citizens address this massive challenge in reality? How can Sri Lanka begin to tackle this when all our resources are going into the war? We are already facing unpredictable weather and the destabilisation of our natural resources upon which people rely on for their livelihoods and very existence. We are seeing the loss of lands and homes due to an increase in destructive natural phenomena, widespread loss of livelihoods and a general deterioration of health and increased disease. It is very saddening to know that most of this deterioration in our beautiful environment has been forced upon us by inappropriate development ideals and pressures to become more like the west. And so the high rise buildings, air con super centres, mega hydro electric schemes and coal power parks keep growing. There is mass deforestation replaced with completely unsuitable reforestation programmes using resource hungry plant varieties which leach the land. The list is endless. How to we tackle this? The buzzwords circling the big meetings in big hotels are all about diversification, mitigation and adaptation but what is it that people themselves feel they can do? What can they do when they have so many other priorities on a daily basis? Bring the veddha’s to the table, the fisherfolk, the farmers and paddy cultivators and see what they have to say. It can be tackled, we have the resources and the awareness to move things along, but it is almost like a change of mindset that is required, to make people stop and think about the consequences of all the actions. We at the Green Movement believe that this change of mindset can happen in Sri Lanka, and that we must try to live in accordance with the middle path in a peaceful and mindful way, to change our materialistic and unsustainable life patterns. Of course this is certainly not the only way but it is a good foundation upon which to work on.

DMIP activities this week

2008-01-20T02:39:00.000-08:00

The Green Movement have been involved with the rehabilitation of families in the Newara Eliya district affected by last January’s landslide. People of Hanguranketha and Walapane have been living in temporary shelters with basic amenities and in cramped conditions for over a year now. The DS deemed the land where they lived unsafe and promised to find suitable lands for them to be resettled. They found new land for 192 families from Hanguranketha, as of 31^st December, and most families have started to move. One member of our staff went to assess their progress as well as to investigate the new site. What he found was not encouraging. It is simply a piece of land, with demarcated plots that will not suffice for all their agricultural and farming needs, let alone for them to live easily in. There are no facilities in place and people have had to clear the land themselves and take what materials they have from the camp to the new site. Being a strong lobbying and campaigning organisation, the GMSL plan to challenge the government to find alternative lands, as it seems this one is even more unsafe than where they originated from. There is no point in settling people in a place that puts people at even more risk from landslides than before. We ask that the newly resettled retired soldiers nearby could perhaps swap with the families, as the soldiers have ample land that they will not even use. As well as their right to safe lands of course, they require their basic needs to be met, and the GMSL are there with a suitable WATSAN project to be delivered.

Political climate

2008-01-20T02:38:00.001-08:00

The ceasefire officially came to an end on Wednesday 16^th January, and the island is already suffering the consequences amid intensified and targeted killings. Civilians will pay an even heavier price and we must protect them at this time. With the annulment the task of humanitarian workers will become even more challenging. They must also be protected and supported. What will become of international funding? What about human rights? If everyone pulls out what will become of our people?

Situation Updates- Trinco and Ampara

2008-01-20T02:35:00.000-08:00

Trincomalee District

Just as resettled families were trying to cultivate their lands again, the recent heavy rain and flooding has affected most areas and set back people’s livelihoods once more. The level of assistance for returnees will need to be re-assessed after another setback, as they will be requiring external help until the next harvest season (ReliefWeb: 10^th January). The Green Movement are hoping to work alongside Solidar in helping resettled communities recover their livelihood patterns in this area as soon as possible.

Ampara District

The government have given relief to 70,442 families in the last 3 days, since January 1^th. The weather has improved and water levels are now receding, making the number of families sheltering in temporary camps decrease from 2,820 to 718. Only the Adadiwembe DS division is still affected (Daily News: January 15^th).

Flood Situation of Ampala District

2008-01-12T05:19:00.000-08:00

Situation of Ampala District

7-day weather forecast for Batticaloa

2008-01-10T01:31:00.000-08:00

7-day weather forecast for Batticaloa

Floods displace more than 30,000

2008-01-10T00:57:00.000-08:00

Floods displace more than 30,000 in east Sri Lanka

Monsoon flooding has forced more than 30,000 people in eastern Sri Lanka from their homes, with many taking refuge in temporary shelters like huts, schools and mosques, officials said on Thursday.

Flooding and ensuing mass displacement are common in Sri Lanka, fuelled by monsoon rains. In December, 175,000 people took refuge in welfare centres and temples in the eastern and central parts of the country following flash floods.

The latest flooding hit the eastern district of Ampara, a largely flat agricultural area with a coastline that was hammered by the 2004 tsunami and where infrastructure has long been neglected because of a protracted war between the state and Tamil Tigers, after heavy rains began on Monday.

"Due to the activation of the northeastern monsoon, 31,042 people have been displaced and of that 10,869 people are in 20 IDP camps," said H. Dharmapriya, assistant director at the National Disaster Management Centre, referring to shelters for Internally Displaced People.

"The water levels are receding and there are no heavy rains as such at the moment," he added, saying one third of the displaced were in temporarily shelters while the rest were housed with relatives.

The Meteorology Department forecast continued rainfall in coming days, but said it would not be heavy.

Flooding and drought are cyclical in Sri Lanka, where a southern monsoon batters the island between May and September, and a northeastern monsoon runs from December to February.

In early December 20,000 people were displaced in Ampara as a depression over the Bay of Bengal compounded monsoon rains.

(Reporting by Ranga Sirilal, Editing by Simon Gardner and Sanjeev Miglani)

Distribution started for affected people by the flood

2008-01-09T04:29:00.000-08:00

Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCiSL) have been started distribution for mainly in 4 D.S.Divisions (Akkaraipattu, Aalayadivembu, Addalaichenai & Thirukkovil) in Ampara district.

Distribution started on 8th January (Tuesday)
Akkaraipattu D.S.Division - 750 Bed sheets and 750 Plastic Mats
Aalayadivembu D.S.Division - 750 Bed sheets and 750 Plastic Mats
Addalaichenai D.S.DIvision - 750 Bed sheets and 750 Plastic Mats
Thirukkovil D.S.Division - 750 Bed sheets and 750 Plastic Mats

To distribute from Thursday/Friday (as the stuff is on the way)
50,000 Packets of Samaposha (Supplementary food for children)
3,800 Sets of rubber gloves
780 Mops
180 Brooms

Disaster Management and Information Programme

2008-01-08T06:43:00.000-08:00

Disaster Management and Information Programme

Green Movement of Sri Lanka

The Green Movement of Sri Lanka (GMSL) is a consortium of 144 civil society organizations in 22 districts in Sri Lanka, with collaboration from 78 international organizations, universities, and government ministries and UN agencies. The focus of work centres on environmental conservation, effective resource management and sustainable development.

Established in 1998, GMSL is motivated to achieve natural resource based sustainable development through empowerment of the poorest and sustainable livelihoods, focusing on current environmental problems and providing solutions utilizing collective efforts. Activities launched by GMSL with people’s participation envisage the emergence of vibrant, environmentally-friendly communities throughout the island. In 2003 the Executive Board of GMSL expanded its focus by integrating disaster management into the sustainable development activities of the network. Based on this decision and collaboration with the Disaster and Development Centre (DDC) of Northumbria University, United Kingdom, the Disaster Management and Information Programme (DMIP) was established in April 2004 as the disaster management unit of GMSL. The purpose of the Disaster and Development Centre is to develop through research, teaching and learning the knowledge and skills to address hazards, disaster and complex emergencies from the prospective of different development debates and experience. This field of inquiry and associated expertise, by necessity non disciplinary, is guided by the needs of civil society and institutions in addressing vulnerability and disaster response. The DDC explores the association of sustainable development with improved human security through risk reduction, resilience, emergency response systems, and longer term recovery strategies both locally and in an international context. DDC activities include peace building, conflict resolution, infectious decease risk management, labour and reconstruction, livelihood protection, psychosocial programming and trauma treatment projects in Africa and Asia.

Disaster Management and Information Programme (DMIP) is not another project to support to attract funding or support. DMIP aims at establishing a creative space for government agencies, civil society groups, academic institutions and international agencies to strength the coordination of humanitarian emergency mitigation, planning, assistance, management and interventions in Sri Lanka and ensure better preparation for, as well as rapid well-coordinated response to complex humanitarian emergencies and sudden and natural disasters. There are three main objectives to DMIP

1. To establish a national networking group on disaster management and information in Sri Lanka comprising relevant government agencies, civil society groups, academic institutions and international agencies.

2. To conduct disaster information gathering and research, education and training, develop disaster risk management and early warning systems and interventions to respond disasters and provide relief to disaster victims.

3. To formulate, implementation. Monitoring and evaluate policies on disaster management and sustainable development in Sri Lanka.

The disaster risk reduction framework of GMSL invites all the relevant government agencies, civil society groups, academic institutions and international agencies to a common space, which will elaborate the following activity frames

1. Disaster information gathering and research on disaster management and sustainable development

2. Education and training programmes on disaster risk reduction

3. Disaster risk management and early warning

4. Disaster response and relief

5. Policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation

Contacts

Disaster Management and Information Programme,
Green Movement of Sri Lanka,
No9, 1st Lane,
Wanatha Road, Gangodawila,
Nugegoda,
Sri Lanka.

Telephone: +94-115-516511 / 4305274
Tel / Fax: +94-112-817156
Email: dmip@greensl.net
Web: www.greensl.net

40,000 families affected by floods

2008-01-08T06:09:00.000-08:00

40,000 families affected by floods in E Sri Lanka

Some 40,000 families have been affected by floods caused by incessant rains in the eastern district of Ampara, government officials said Monday.
Sunil Kannangara, the chief administrative officer in the district, said torrential rains have been falling in the district since Saturday.
Low-lying areas in Alayadiwembu, Pottuvil, Karathivu, Akkaraipattu, Sammanthurai and Thirukkovil are under four feet of water with most of the main roads becoming impassable.
"Floods are caused by difficulties in draining out rain water", Kannangara said, adding that some 63 families had been displaced.
Relief operations are already underway, he said.