Establishment of District-Level Project Support Unit for the “Build Resilience to Climate and Climate Variability of Vulnerable Communities in Mullaitivu District of Sri Lanka” Project
4 December 2024, Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka. UN-Habitat, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, is currently implementing a USD 2 Million project funded by the Adaptation Fund to strengthen climate resilience in Mullaitivu District in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. On 4th December, a special meeting was held at the Mullaitivu District Secretariat to review project progress and to establish a District -Level Project Support Unit (PSU).
Mr. S. Gunapalan, Additional District Secretary for Mullaitivu District, chaired the PSU meeting. Over 35 representatives from district-level technical agencies such as the Department of Agrarian Development, Disaster Management Center and Divisional Secretariats actively participated in the meeting. The Chair emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration to ensure sustainability of project interventions, particularly the renovation of irrigation tanks, which will be implemented with the support of Farmer Organizations. Upon renovation, the irrigation tanks will be handed over to the local communities.
During the meeting, Ms. Harshini Halangode, Country Programme Manager of UN-Habitat Sri Lanka, introduced the project, highlighting its objectives and implementation methodology. Thereafter an update of the project’s achievements and challenges was provided by the Field Coordinator, Mr. T. J. Culas. Mr. M.S.M. Aleem, UN-Habitat Project Manager, outlined the Terms of Reference for the Project Support Unit, which was finalized after incorporating input from stakeholders. The newly established PSU will oversee project progress, provide strategic guidance, and ensure activities align with anticipated goals, thus paving the way for a climate-resilient future for Mullaitivu District.
The meeting concluded with stakeholders pledging their support towards project implementation. Over the next year, the Build Resilience to Climate and Climate Variability of Vulnerable Communities in Mullaitivu District of Sri Lanka project will focus on the following key outputs: improving critical infrastructure towards mitigating saltwater intrusion into agricultural fields; renovating 15 minor irrigation tanks; constructing evacuation routes and disaster-resilient toilets; introducing value-added fish processing and rehabilitating 1.5 km (2 hectares) of mangroves for improved lagoon fishery; and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices. These interventions aim to boost the income of vulnerable fishing and farming households, support resilient local development plans, and strengthen the district’s capacity to adapt to climate hazards such as droughts, floods, and saltwater intrusion.