Partnership with Ministry of Disaster Management, Sri Lanka
Fri, 27 Jan 2017 09:21:00 GMT
Professors Dilanthi Amaratunga and Richard Haigh visited the Ministry of Disaster Management Sri Lanka, upon invited by its Secretary, Mr. Miyanawala.
If our research is to benefit both research users and society as a whole in Sri Lanka, it is essential that it not only has the potential to make a practical difference, but is disseminated and effectively used. Contributions made by Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga and Professor Richard Haigh, since 2004 to establish better informed and more socially inclusive public policy-making and implementation towards the development of a disaster resilient built environment in Sri Lanka was discussed which has been impacted in Sri Lanka through their input to the capacity development of national and local stakeholders.
Photo (L to R): Director General of Meteorology Department, Director General of National Building Research Organisation Additional Secretary to the Ministry, Secretary of Ministry of Disaster Management, Prof. Richard Haigh, Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga
There were also discussions on past and current projects, lessons learned, best practices, challenges of disaster risk management activities initiated in Sri Lanka since 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, including:
- Producing excellent research outcomes that advance knowledge and understanding across all sectors of the economy and society;
- Exchanging knowledge and ideas with business and professional partners, especially through effective use of communication, to make sure as much of my best research as possible is translated into powerful services and products;
- Conducting research that underpins high-quality teaching and learning, equipping our students with the intellectual and practical skills they need in an increasingly competitive employment market:
- Carrying out research that has a focus on social, economic, cultural, scholarly or scientific impact, the value of which is recognised by the external community through support from funders and users of research;
- Producing research outcomes that have a major, visible impact and showcasing them through the media and our website to benefit regional, national and international stakeholders, as well as society at large.
With the increased attention towards Disaster Management after the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami on December 26, 2004 the government appointed a “Parliamentary Select Committee on Natural Disasters” to identify ways to improve the Disaster Management in the country. Based on its recommendations, the Disaster Management Act of May 2005was formulated providing the initial legal and institutional framework for holistic disaster management. Accordingly, the National Council for Disaster Management (NCDM) Chaired by H.E. the President, Ministry of Disaster Management and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has the responsibility of implementing provisions of the Act.
Ministry of Disaster Management facilitates harmony and the prosperity and dignity of human life through effective prevention and mitigation of natural and man-made disasters in Sri Lanka. Several key Institutions function under the Ministry for the Implementation of government policies: Department of Meteorology; Disaster Management Centre; National Building Research Organisation; and National Disaster Relief Services Centre.
