President chairs National Disaster Council Meeting on El Niño preparedness

The National Council for Disaster Management (NCDM) met this morning (30) at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.The meeting, attended by government and opposition representatives, held extensive discussions on measures required in response to the El Niño phenomenon and reforms to the disaster management system, according to a statement issued by the President’s Media Division. A number of decisions relating to the National Disaster Coordination Mechanism were also taken.The President paid particular attention to the potential impacts of the El Niño climate pattern and sought clarification from officials on the extent to which current forecasts are data-driven and how they compare with previous predictions, the PMD noted.Special emphasis was placed on the preparedness of the agriculture, drinking water supply and energy sectors in responding to the anticipated effects of El Niño.Discussions also focused on the government’s plans for water management and the possibility of commencing cultivation activities during the Maha season earlier than usual. Attention was further drawn to the impact that water shortages in wildlife zones could have on wild animals, and the President instructed the Ministry of Environment to expedite the rehabilitation of tanks within wildlife reserves, according to the PMD statement.The President also highlighted the need to manage reservoir water capacities to ensure the uninterrupted generation of hydroelectric power and stressed the importance of accelerating the importation of batteries required for storing solar-generated energy. The committee report on the proposed National Disaster Management Coordination Mechanism, prepared in line with recommendations discussed at previous meetings, was presented at the session.The proposed framework aims to consolidate disaster management functions currently dispersed among several institutions under a single coordinating body.Accordingly, the need for a new legal framework that prioritises disaster prevention, rather than the predominantly reactive approach embodied in Act No. 13 of 2005, was emphasized, the PMD stated.It was further proposed that, in addition to the National Council, a governing body headed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and the Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management be established, together with a formal mechanism operating at district level. Proposals were also made to merge the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) to improve efficiency and service delivery.Meanwhile, the President had also revisited shortcomings in the existing insurance mechanism that had been discussed at the previous meeting. He had pointed out the imbalance whereby the government pays insurance premiums through the National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF), yet receives limited benefits in the event of disasters. He instructed officials to conduct a study and submit a report on how the country could establish a scientifically based insurance coverage system, the PMD added. The meeting further revealed that a plan has been formulated to address compensation issues faced by families lacking formal land deeds, as experienced during the Ditwah disaster. Under the proposed arrangement, compensation would be granted on the basis of official verification of residency. The proposal is to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval. Furthermore, the need to review the country’s complex land legislation, currently spread across approximately five separate Acts, and to introduce a single, consolidated Land Act was also highlighted. The President further instructed officials to formulate a structured four-year plan for the resettlement of families living in landslide-prone areas, particularly in the Nuwara Eliya District. He emphasised the importance of identifying suitable land and providing the necessary infrastructure as a matter of priority. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who participated in the discussion presented to the Council the proposals formulated by the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change on disaster management and climate resilience. He also underscored the importance of developing disaster management policies based on scientific evidence. In response, the President directed officials to submit proposals to the relevant parliamentary committee to amend the existing legislation and address its shortcomings. The meeting also resolved to enhance the technological equipment and helicopter capabilities of the Tri-Forces to improve rescue operations, to entrust local authorities with the maintenance of disaster-response assets such as boats and tractors at regional level, and to strengthen district disaster operations centres to function around the clock. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy, Anura Karunathilaka, the Minister of Environment, Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, and the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Harshana Nanayakkara, together with other ministers, provincial governors, government and opposition Members of Parliament and members of the National Disaster Management Council participated in the discussion.