- Aimed at strengthening emergency response coordination
Disaster management officials from the United States and Sri Lanka came together in Galle from 16 to 18 June for a three-day workshop focused on strengthening preparedness for natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies.
Organised by the US Embassy in Sri Lanka in partnership with the US Pacific Command’s Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM), the Montana National Guard, the Montana Disaster and Emergency Services (MT DES), and Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre, the workshop builds on the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence and the Montana National Guard.
The expert-led workshop culminated in a tabletop exercise designed to test coordination during a realistic emergency scenario.
The exercise challenged participants to respond to evolving disaster conditions, coordinate resources, manage public communications, and make critical decisions under pressure. Drawing on lessons learnt from recent disasters, including Cyclone Ditwah, the workshop provided an opportunity for Sri Lankan agencies to exchange practical approaches to the development of coordinated crisis response plans, interagency coordination, and disaster preparedness.
The Montana National Guard and MT DES bring extensive real-world experience from their roles as emergency response organisations across the US State of Montana. Montana National Guard personnel and MT DES emergency management specialists play a leading role in disaster response, mobilising to help their communities affected by wildfires, floods, severe winter storms, and other disasters, providing planning, logistics, communications, aviation support, and emergency coordination.
Through its partnership with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence, the Montana National Guard and MT DES share these lessons and best practices to help strengthen preparedness and response capabilities before disasters strike.
Participants included representatives from the Sri Lanka Army; Sri Lanka Navy; Sri Lanka Air Force; Sri Lanka Coast Guard; Sri Lanka Police; Department of Civil Security; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation; Ministry of Energy; Ministry of Environment; and Ministry of Local Government.
Through hands-on planning and scenario-based exercises, participants strengthened coordination, sharpened response procedures, and improved preparedness for future emergencies.