7^th December 2023, Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka

The UN-Habitat Sri Lanka Office has launched a project to bolster resilience to climate change in Sri Lanka’s Mullaitivu district, with a grant of USD 2 million from the Adaptation Fund. The project, titled “Building Resilience to Climate Change and Climate Variability of Vulnerable Communities in Mullaitivu District of Sri Lanka,” aims to uplift socio-economic outcomes of vulnerable fishing and agricultural communities in Mullaitivu district through the implementation of climate adaptation and resilience measures.

The inception workshop for this transformative project took place at the Conference Hall of the District Secretariat in Mullaitivu on December 7th, 2023, with 127 participants. Mr. Umamaheshwaran, the Government Agent of Mullaitivu, delivered the opening remarks, extending a warm welcome and stressing the importance of stakeholder collaboration for the project’s success. Mr. Laxman Perera, Human Settlements Officer of UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asisa & the Pacific briefly introduced the UN-Habitat and the project, seeking cooperation from the participants. The workshop also encompassed a comprehensive overview of the project, its deliverables, implementation methodology, and lively discussions, concluding with productive Q&A sessions and reaffirmation of strong support from stakeholders.

Over the next two years, the project will focus on improving crucial infrastructure such as measures to prevent saltwater intrusion, disaster-resilient toilets, and evacuation routes, promoting climate-resilient agriculture, boosting the income of vulnerable fishing households, supporting climate change resilient local development plans, and so on. The Ministry of Environment will provide direct guidance throughout the implementation of these measures. Through these efforts, it is expected that Mullaitivu District, a region significantly vulnerable to climate hazards including droughts, floods, saltwater intrusion, inundations, will mark a significant step toward a more climate-resilient future with strengthened capacity to adapt to climate change and reduced vulnerability.