The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) hosted the inaugural meeting of the National Tsunami Ready Board (NTRB) on 14th September 2026, marking a key milestone in strengthening Sri Lanka’s coastal hazard preparedness. Chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), the board formally convened to establish the national framework for the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP).
The session was declared open by the Director General of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and Secretary/Convener of the NTRB, Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda (Retd), who highlighted Sri Lanka’s tsunami risk profile and the strategic importance of embedding structured, community based early warning systems along vulnerable coastlines.
During the session, the board achieved several key operational milestones, including the formal adoption of the Terms of Reference (ToR) governing the NTRB to establish inter-agency oversight across defence, meteorological, marine institutions and academia, through the current fifteen member multi stakeholder composition and expanding the same to the tourism sector as well as media. Furthermore, the approval of operational guidelines for Tsunami Ready Local Committees (TRLCs) at Divisional and Grama Niladhari levels ensured sustained local ownership, with the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme aligning directly with Sri Lanka’s National Disaster Management Plan (2023–2030).
Furthermore, the NTRB endorsed the nationally contextualised twelve (12) UNESCO-IOC performance indicators across Assessment, Preparedness, and Response categories, and formally sanctioned the pilot implementation of the TRRP in Manatkadu GND (Vadamaradchi East DSD, Jaffna District) and Wenamulla GND (Madampagama/Ambalangoda DSD, Galle District).
Securing UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready recognition offers transformative national benefits by transitioning Sri Lanka’s coastal communities from reactive disaster response to an internationally accredited state of permanent resilience. Beyond saving lives and safeguarding community livelihoods across all fourteen (14) coastal districts, achieving this global benchmark directly supports economic resilience by protecting coastal tourism hubs, securing fisheries infrastructure, and preserving vital marine ecosystems. Furthermore, alignment with global targets including the UN Ocean Decade goal and Sendai Framework enhances Sri Lanka’s international standing as a safe, forward-thinking, and resilient destination, reassuring global investors and visitors while strengthening community-level emergency capabilities island wide.
Through the NTRB’s governance and multi-agency collaboration, the Ministry of Defence remains committed to safeguarding coastal populations and building institutionalized, community level disaster resilience across the island.
