A delegation comprising Ms. Nicole Pana, International Development Project Manager of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), and Ms. Laura Nicholson, Second Secretary (Development Cooperation) at the Australian High Commission in Colombo, met with the Director General of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Major General (Retd.) Sampath Kotuwegoda, for a special discussion today (09/08) at the Disaster Management Centre.

The discussion was held with the objective of further strengthening the existing cooperation between the Disaster Management Centre and the Australian High Commission. During the meeting, attention was focused on disaster preparedness in Sri Lanka, disaster risk reduction, and the programmes and measures implemented by the Disaster Management Centre in the field of disaster management.

In particular, the participants exchanged views and experiences regarding the measures implemented by the Disaster Management Centre following Cyclone Ditwah last year, with special emphasis on public awareness, early warnings and information dissemination, emergency operations, and the disaster response process.

The discussion also focused on further improving preparedness for future disasters, reducing disaster risks, and strengthening technical and institutional cooperation in the field of disaster management.

The meeting served as an important opportunity to further strengthen the cooperation between Sri Lanka and Australia in the areas of disaster risk management, preparedness, public awareness, and emergency operations.