When the Indian Ocean tsunami struck the island back in 2004, it not only affected many lives but it inspired a few as well. One individual who was inspired to make a change in terms of disaster management was Dilanthi Amaratunga. Being a proud product of Visakha Vidyalaya, Dilanthi was determined to contribute her expertise in infrastructure development towards bringing about disaster management. Today she is a Professor of Disaster Risk Management at the University of Huddersfield in the UK and leads the Global Disaster Resilience Centre at the University. This Centre is committed to excellence in research, education and advocacy to improve the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. In addition to that, she is involved in various other organisations including the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and is working towards bringing about a holistic approach to reduce the risk and impact of disasters.

By Daily Mirror – The Association of Disaster Risk Management Professionals was formed and the official website was launched in the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena and Minsiter Palitha Range Bandara.

The inauguration ceremony of the Association of Disaster Management Professionals, Sri Lanka (ADRiMP) was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the BMICH, on 23rd of August 2018.

The Royal Academy of Engineering, together with The Academy of Medical Sciences, The British Academy and The Royal Society, is this week bringing together 60 of the world’s leading early and mid-career researchers to address the challenges caused by global mass displacement in the first Frontiers of Development symposium.

The inaugural Frontiers of Development Symposium will take place Monday 12 February – Wednesday 14 February in Kigali, Rwanda. Delegates will arrive on Sunday 11 February for an informal networking reception and welcome dinner.

Mayor Abby Binay shared Makati City’s formula for disaster preparedness at an international workshop hosted by De La Salle University, Philippines and the University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom.

Professor Amaratunga and Professor Richard Haigh of the University’s Global Disaster Resilience Centre chair 7th international conference in Bangkok. A UK-based professor who is a Leading expert on disaster resilience has described the need for international partnerships to curtail the devastation caused by episodes such as the 2004 Tsunami. There is also a call for new scientific research in the subject to be fully explained and applied in communities likely to be affected.

Dilanthi Amaratunga outlines how construction policy will support the UN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The article in the Reliefweb on the 7th International Conference on Building Resilience to be held in Bangkok from 27-29 November