13 Capacity-Building Strategy for Creating Disaster …
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13.3 Community Resilience in the Context of Disaster Risk
Management
Whilst Sri Lanka has historically experienced the impacts of multiple hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, drought, landslides as well as geological
disasters such as tsunamis and earth tremors, more than 90% of the disaster victims
in Sri Lanka result from hydro-meteorological disasters (SLCDMP 2014). Concurrently, the frequency and severity of natural disasters attributed to rapid urbanisation,
industrialisation and unplanned development have escalated, causing serious loss and
increased vulnerability in terms of human, socio-economic, cultural, infrastructure
and environment.
13.3.1 Disaster Risk Management—A Brief Historical
Overview in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka historically embraced an ecosystem-based approach to Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR) within a tank and village culture. This system was disturbed over
the time period and the resilient capacity of communities gradually eroded. Since
independence, the government has established systems to provide welfare assistance
and from the 1990s it formalised provision of relief and shelter assistance through the
Ministry of Social Services, and Community-Based Disaster Management programs
(CBDRM) were also launched.
Historically, Sri Lankan communities have had their own systems and strategies of managing disaster risk dating back many centuries. This history of Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR) goes back to the village tank (reservoir) system, which was
based on an ecosystem management approach and supported the country’s agrarian
civilisation (DMC 2015). Ancient community governance systems covering agriculture, irrigation and social institutions were abandoned in later years, but some
of these reappeared following their recognition as valuable tools for social governance (DMC 2015). Although the term was not formally used, community participation was practiced at various levels in post-colonial times. During the past two
decades, various agencies including the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) piloted
programmes towards community participation in risk reduction.
The 2004 Tsunami and the subsequent Disaster Management Act significantly
altered the existing disaster management system in Sri Lanka. The changes included
the establishing necessary institutional and administrative foundations for disaster
management, developing disaster management plans at different levels (national to
local), establishing coordination for risk reduction, initiating mainstreaming Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR) into other development sectors, and knowledge building
programs at various levels towards creating a safer nation. New disaster management
policy assigned collective responsibility, equality, diversity and inclusion towards
235
13.3 Community Resilience in the Context of Disaster Risk
Management
Whilst Sri Lanka has historically experienced the impacts of multiple hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, drought, landslides as well as geological
disasters such as tsunamis and earth tremors, more than 90% of the disaster victims
in Sri Lanka result from hydro-meteorological disasters (SLCDMP 2014). Concurrently, the frequency and severity of natural disasters attributed to rapid urbanisation,
industrialisation and unplanned development have escalated, causing serious loss and
increased vulnerability in terms of human, socio-economic, cultural, infrastructure
and environment.
13.3.1 Disaster Risk Management—A Brief Historical
Overview in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka historically embraced an ecosystem-based approach to Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR) within a tank and village culture. This system was disturbed over
the time period and the resilient capacity of communities gradually eroded. Since
independence, the government has established systems to provide welfare assistance
and from the 1990s it formalised provision of relief and shelter assistance through the
Ministry of Social Services, and Community-Based Disaster Management programs
(CBDRM) were also launched.
Historically, Sri Lankan communities have had their own systems and strategies of managing disaster risk dating back many centuries. This history of Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR) goes back to the village tank (reservoir) system, which was
based on an ecosystem management approach and supported the country’s agrarian
civilisation (DMC 2015). Ancient community governance systems covering agriculture, irrigation and social institutions were abandoned in later years, but some
of these reappeared following their recognition as valuable tools for social governance (DMC 2015). Although the term was not formally used, community participation was practiced at various levels in post-colonial times. During the past two
decades, various agencies including the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) piloted
programmes towards community participation in risk reduction.
The 2004 Tsunami and the subsequent Disaster Management Act significantly
altered the existing disaster management system in Sri Lanka. The changes included
the establishing necessary institutional and administrative foundations for disaster
management, developing disaster management plans at different levels (national to
local), establishing coordination for risk reduction, initiating mainstreaming Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR) into other development sectors, and knowledge building
programs at various levels towards creating a safer nation. New disaster management
policy assigned collective responsibility, equality, diversity and inclusion towards