Calm before the storm: Rethinking disaster risk reduction in Sri Lanka View(s):By Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka, and Ronald Jackson, Head, Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery for Building Resilience, UNDPWhen Cyclone Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka in November 2025, affecting over 2 million people, it was the latest chapter in a pattern of intensifying climate-related hazards reshaping the island’s risk landscape. Over the past 40 years, Sri Lanka has experienced flood-related damage every year, ranging from localised events to nationwide disasters. The recently launched National Climate Finance Strategy by the Government of Sri Lanka identifies disaster risk insurance among key financial instruments. A systemic approach to disaster risk reductionAs disaster risks intensify, preparedness must become systemic rather than reactive. Established mechanisms such as the National Disaster Management Coordination Committee (NDMCC) in Sri Lanka has a key role to play.

Source: Sunday Times March 28, 2026 18:58 UTC