Building resilient communities starts with an informed and empowered public - Defence Secretary
December 13, 2023Public awareness, education, and training initiatives are the building blocks of resilience. Our collaboration with SAARC countries is not just a diplomatic formality; it's a bond forged in the crucible of shared experiences. Together with ADPC, BMGF, USAID, and other stakeholders, we've not only fortified our disaster management capabilities but also fostered a spirit of regional resilience, said Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne gracing the Sustainable National Anticipatory Action through Preparedness initiative in South Asia workshop at the Courtyard by Marriot Hotel in Colombo, today (Dec. 13).
Making the opening remarks at the two-day Regional Launch and Policy Dialogue workshop Gen. Gunaratne said that Sri Lanka's commitment to disaster risk management has evolved into a comprehensive roadmap encapsulated in our Disaster Risk Management (DRM) framework. This framework is not just a set of guidelines; it is a proof to our collective determination to forge a safer future, he added.
Organized by USAID, SNAP and ADPC, the workshop is attended by many senior government officials from SAARC countries and representatives from international stakeholder organizations.
Director General of the Disaster Management Centre Maj. Gen. Sudantha Ranasinghe (Retd), Director of Preparedness for Response and Recovery ADPC Dr Sisira Madurapperuma, BMGF Deputy Director for Emergency Response, Global Development Dr. Valerie Bemo, Director South and Central Asia USADI-BHA Dustin Shiau and Technical Lead APDC John Abo also were present at the opening session.
