Media

International virtual symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction (MHEW and DRR: 2020) held for three days concluded yesterday (Dec 16) at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

Secretary of State Ministry of National Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management and Secretary of Defence Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne attended the closing ceremony as the Chief Guest.

From Flood Resilience Portal – This declaration was adopted at a recent “International Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction” which brought together over 2,500 participants from the Sri Lankan government, private sector, non-governmental organisations and higher educational institutions. The declaration expresses deep concern at the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate related challenges and the continuing impact of disasters, resulting in an unacceptable loss of human lives and livelihoods, displacement of people and environmental and economic damages in Sri Lanka and across the world.

From PreventionWeb – This declaration was adopted at a recent “International Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction” which brought together over 2,500 participants from the Sri Lankan government, private sector, non-governmental organisations and higher educational institutions. The declaration expresses deep concern at the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate related challenges and the continuing impact of disasters, resulting in an unacceptable loss of human lives and livelihoods, displacement of people and environmental and economic damages in Sri Lanka and across the world.

Paper supplement on Daily Mirror and the paper advertisement on MHEW 2020.

It is indisputable that Covid-19 is a tragedy, claiming thousands of lives and crippling economies and livelihoods worldwide. But in Sri Lanka, where the death toll and number of cases have been relatively and significantly low, does Covid-19 qualify as a disaster? We ask Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga, Professor of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management at the University of Huddersfield, UK, and the Head of its Global Disaster Resilience Centre.

Professor Dilanthi speaks to the Sri Lankan Nespaper Aruna on multi hazard disaster preparedness

The annual £1 million Newton Prize celebrates outstanding international research partnerships between the UK and Newton countries, enabling international research partners to continue working together to address some of the world’s most pressing health and development issues such as malaria, antimicrobial resistance and climate change.

Coastal urban areas are particularly exposed to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards, which tend to hit the poorest and most marginalised people the hardest. The recent flooding and tsunamis in Indonesia highlight the devastation caused by coastal hazards, and the urgent need to build the resilience of coastal communities.

The National Science Foundation is in the process of constructing a digital platform with technical support of SLAASCOM with a view to harnessing Sri Lankan expatriate scientists, professionals and entrepreneurs for national development. Two webinars in this connection were held with active participation of and valuable contribution from Sri Lankans in Australia and America.

The University of Huddersfield’s Global Disaster Resilience Centre (GDRC) is bringing its expertise to bear in a project to help disadvantaged countries prepare for pandemics following the award of £166,000.