Community Based Disaster Mitigation programs in Sri Lanka

An Initiative of Sarvodaya

Marking the second year of the reconstruction and rehabilitation endeavours following the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26 December 2004, Sarvodaya organized community based mitigation programs in the Kalutara district of Sri Lanka on the 27th of December 2006. The program involved capacity-building at the grassroots level.

The Asian region is increasingly witnessing and experiencing multi-disasters and many countries are affected by flood, earthquake and tsunami. The essence of community based initiatives towards reducing the impact of disasters, therefore, remains in the implementation of such programs at the level of the community, entailing their support and participation.

The Sri Lanka Government has also declared December 26 as the National Disaster Safety Day.