Cabinet approves science-based disaster resilience strategy

Thursday, 12 March 2026 04:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved a new science-based national strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s disaster resilience in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the country in late November 2025 and affected an estimated 2.3 million people.

In response, the Science and Technology Ministry has initiated a program to shift the country’s disaster management approach from a traditional post-disaster “response and restoration” model to a science-based pre-disaster resilience framework focused on prevention and preparedness.

As part of the initiative, the Institutional Research Requirement Appraisal National Program was held on 14 January under the theme ‘Lessons Learned from the Ditwah Cyclone as a Climatic Stress Examination.’

“A committee appointed to oversee the program has submitted a report outlining seven recommendations for strategic research and system development to strengthen disaster resilience, along with seven additional recommendations for implementing and operationalising those measures,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday.

He said the dual strategy is aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness and strengthening national resilience through science-based policy planning.

Authorities estimate that the cyclone caused an overall economic loss of around $ 4.1 billion, severely damaging critical infrastructure and the agriculture and environmental sectors, including mountain and coastal ecosystems.

Officials have described the disaster as a “climate stress test” that exposed significant vulnerabilities within the country’s national infrastructure systems.

The proposal to this effect was presented by the Science and Technology Minister.