'Building resilience':

CCISL to host int'l seminar

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

The Chamber of Construction Industries Sri Lanka (CCISL) will host an international conference on building resilience from July 19 to 21 in Colombo.

With growing exposure of world population and natural hazards alongside man-made disasters it is most opportune to create a wide dialogue and discussion on such disasters and risk mitigation and management as an integral part in the sustainable development agenda.

In facilitating this cause, the Salford University in association with a number of Sri Lankan organizations will host a conference on "Building resilience" during 19 to 21 July this year, Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka Secretary General and CEO Dakshitha Thalgodapitiya told Daily News Business.

The Salford University will partner the International Institution for Infrastructure Renewal and Reconstruction, UNDP, Disaster Management Ministry's Disaster Management Centre and the RMIT University of Australia in organizing this international conference, he said.

The Moratuwa University and the Peradeniya University will bring in academia with the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCISL), the accredited representative of domestic construction industry acting as a host.

The Salford University which has establish a centre for disaster resilience have mobilize some of the key stakeholders involved in disaster management who support this conference and enlighten conference participation on some of the key issues that contribute to building resilience through inter disciplinary approach to disaster risk reduction and development of sustainable communities and cities.

The CCISL who is in the forefront of empowerment of persons affected in the conflict areas through livelihood development will not only contribute on social and economic integration of vulnerable persons, but also on community engagement in post disaster reconstruction leading to inclusive development. The key to the underline the theme of this conference is capacity building of every stakeholder engaged in building resilience of disaster relief, recovery and poverty alleviation and economic support.

The conference outcomes will be used to support the 2010/11 World Disaster Reduction campaign "Making cities resilient". This forum will also focus on enhancing awareness on understanding of the need for reconstruct on importance of participatory decision making in the reconstruction process which will contribute to peace building, empowerment of vulnerable sectors of cross society.