Australia has strengthened Sri Lanka's disaster preparedness by donating two rescue inflatable boats to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), with disaster assessment drones set to be provided to the National Building Research Institute (NBRI).

The equipment, funded by the Australian Government and procured through UNOPS, forms part of Australia's AUD 7 million humanitarian and recovery assistance package for Sri Lanka.

The rescue boats will help the DMC reach communities cut off by floods and other water-related emergencies, supporting evacuations, medical transport, relief distribution and rapid emergency response.

Meanwhile, the drones will enable the NBRI to conduct quick aerial assessments of disaster-affected areas, helping authorities inspect damage to roads, bridges, embankments and settlements. The technology is also expected to improve situational awareness, enhance the safety of emergency responders and support faster, evidence-based decision-making during disaster response and recovery.

The handover ceremony, held at the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo, was attended by Australia's Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs Tim Watts, representatives of the Australian High Commission, UNOPS, the DMC and the NBRI.

Speaking at the event, Tim Watts said Australia remains committed to supporting locally led disaster preparedness and strengthening regional resilience in the Indian Ocean, adding that the rescue boats and disaster assessment drones will enhance Sri Lanka's ability to respond to future disasters.