Colombo, Ratnapura for pilot phase of disaster management plan

Shirley WIJESINGHE

COLOMBO: Two districts, Colombo and Ratnapura have been selected to launch a pilot project of Disaster Management capacity building in Sri Lanka and to develop a Media City " Handagama" for the initial stage of the Disaster Management Plan of the St. John Ambulance Sri Lanka (SJASL).

Canadian Disaster Management Expert Felix Roboitaille said the pilot project will focus on Disaster Management and preparing a syllabus in basic emergency management.

Two Canadian experts will be in Sri Lanka for three weeks to assist the Six Lanka members, who were trained in Canada in Medical Response and Disaster Management in developing the initial year of the three year project, SJASL Training and Development Director Dr. Sarath Samarage said.

After the tsunami of 2004, the SJASL has been working with St.John Ambulance Canada and the Government of Canada, Chief Commander Dr.J.D. Jayathilake told the media.

The project will encompass formulating a Readiness Programme and a National Disaster Management Plan. The project is also jointly funded by the St.John Ambulance Canada and the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).