• Focus placed on disaster adaptation and reducing long-term damage

The Ministry of Environment is currently preparing a national adaptation plan aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s ability to cope with environmental disasters and reduce the damage they cause, it is learnt.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody said that several sections of the plan have already been completed. He added that work on the remaining components is ongoing, with the aim of finalising and implementing the plan at the earliest possible stage.

He noted the draft would undergo further review before adoption, given the scale and long-term impact of the measures that would be proposed. "We cannot stop natural disasters, but we can adapt to them and reduce the harm they cause through better planning, infrastructure, and coordination. The objective of this plan is to improve these areas."

The urgency of such measures was underscored in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which recently affected several parts of the country. Heavy rainfall and strong winds led to flooding and landslides, damaging homes, public infrastructure, and livelihoods. Over one million families were impacted, with some areas experiencing road closures and interruptions to essential services.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, individual ministries have begun preparing sector-specific action plans. These include measures to address unauthorised constructions in vulnerable zones, improvements to drainage and flood management systems, and programmes aimed at strengthening irrigation networks to withstand climate-related stress.