Sri Lankan authorities have issued urgent directives to district officials to activate emergency preparedness measures in response to adverse weather conditions affecting the country, with focus on landslide and flood risks.
The Ministry of Defence has instructed district and divisional secretaries to implement immediate protective measures as severe weather continues to impact vulnerable areas across Sri Lanka. The directives follow weather-related warnings issued on March 3rd by the Department of Meteorology, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), and the Irrigation Department, according to Ada Derana.
Under the new instructions, officials have been directed to activate village-level Disaster Management Committees and establish close coordination with residents in high-risk zones identified by the NBRO. Authorities are particularly focused on landslide-prone areas, requiring officials to maintain regular contact with affected residents and ensure they receive timely landslide warnings. Communities in vulnerable locations have been advised to monitor environmental changes that could indicate potential disasters.
The Defence Ministry has also outlined evacuation protocols, instructing officials to identify at-risk populations and relocate them to designated safe centres when necessary. Arrangements are being coordinated to provide evacuees with food, drinking water, and other essential supplies, whether they are sheltered at official centres or staying temporarily with relatives.
K.G. Dharmathilaka, Additional Secretary of the Disaster Management Division, issued the directives on behalf of the Ministry's Secretary. The measures aim to protect both lives and property by strengthening emergency response capabilities ahead of potential weather-related disasters including landslides, floods, and other climate-related emergencies.
