May 2014, Balangoda, Sri Lanka: Over recent years, the Balangoda town centre had been subject to severe flooding during heavy rains, thereby posing major challenges to its residents. The recently completed Rehabilitation of the Dorawela Oya and Flood Mitigation Project, implemented by UN-Habitat with funding from the Government of Australia, has contributed towards making Balangoda ...

March 2014, Kithulgala, Sri Lanka: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), in collaboration with the Disaster Management Center (DMC), conducted two five-day outward bound leadership training programmes for representatives of the community level disaster management committees and local authority officials from Ratnapura, Balangoda, Kalmunai and Batticaloa. The training programmes, held from 17th – 21st ...

January 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Throughout the recent past, an increase in localized disasters in Sri Lanka has resulted in the need for improved disaster preparedness and response capacity at the Local Government level. Responding to this need, the Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies for Sri Lankan Cities Project, funded by the Government of Australia, ...

21 October 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in partnership with the Municipal Councils of Ratnapura, Batticaloa and Kalmunai and the Urban Council of Balangoda officially launched the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Preparedness Plans for each City at the BMICH in Colombo today. The four DRR and Preparedness Plans ...

City Council Leaders from Eight Cities Discuss Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies and the Way Forward June 2013, Balangoda, Sri Lanka. On 14th June 2013, Council Leaders from 8 cities including City Council Mayors, Council Chairmen and Commissioners met in the city of Balangoda to share their experiences, lessons learned and to discuss the way ...

May 2013, Kalmunai, Sri Lanka: The Construction of the “Udayar Road Diversion Flood Risk Reduction Pilot Project” was completed in Kalmunai town on 27th May 2013. This project was implemented by UN-Habitat through the Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies in Sri Lankan Cities project funded by the Government of Australia. The Kalmunai pilot project was ...

14 March 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka: A training programme on “Disaster Management Information Systems” was held in Colombo recently for Local Authority Officials, and Urban Planners of Balangoda and Ratnapura cities. This training programme was a key output of the project ‘Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies for Sri Lankan Cities’ funded by the Government of ...

December 17, 2012, Kalmunai, Sri Lanka. The Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit of the Kalmunai Municipal Council was ceremonially opened on 17th December by the Hon. Mayor of Kalmunai, Dr. M. Siraz Meerasahib. UN-Habitat Programme Manager, Laxman Perera, DRR Project Manager, Indu Weerasoori, Municipal Commissioner, J. Liyakath Ali, Council members, senior Government and Local Authority ...

November 2012, Batticaloa and Kalmunai, Eastern province Sri Lanka. Two awareness workshops on “Best Practices for Disaster Resilient Constructions in Coastal Areas” for local contractors, masons, carpenters and members of the Rural Development Society (RDS) were held in the cities of Kalmunai and Batticaloa recently. This is a key output of the project ‘Disaster Resilient ...

November 3, 2012, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. The Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit of the Batticaloa Municipal Council was ceremonially opened by Mr. Yoshinobu Fukasawa, Senior Human Settlement Officer of the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia Pacific recently. The DRR Unit is a key component of the project “Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies for Sri Lankan ...

October 2012, Balangoda, Sri Lanka. An awareness programme on “Disaster Resilient Practices for sustainable constructions” for local government officers, technical personnel and the general public was held in Balangoda recently. The workshop is a key output of the project ‘Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies for Sri Lankan Cities’ funded by the Government of Australia, being ...

15th August 2012, Balangoda, Sri Lanka: The rehabilitation of Dorawela Oya (stream) in Balangoda town commenced on Thursday 15th August 2012 with a community driven “Shramadana” (clean-up operation). The rehabilitation of the polluted “Dorawela Oya” stream, which is an important water source for Balangoda town, is a key initiative under the project “Disaster Resilient City ...