Tea at this time with Yashushi, here? You must be joking.Conversation at book launch. World Bank’s Sri Lanka Director, Peter Harold (left) with Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe.

Identifying the country’s vulnerability to both natural and human-made disasters the Government yesterday launched the research report; Road Map for Disaster Risk Management, Volume II.

In this 300 paged report which is originated by Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Ministry of Finance and Planning, and Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has focused on seven thematic components which are consistent with ongoing and past efforts in the field of disaster risk management and development planning.

Ministry of Finance and Planning, Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera stressing the importance of Road Map for Disaster Risk Management, Volume II said: "The country has witnessed droughts and floods during which was the biggest disaster it came across. But Sri Lanka today experiencse natural as well as man-made disasters. This book gives importance to government’s pro-poor growth strategy. Any poverty reduction campaign can’t overlook the disaster management as most of these disasters occur in the poorest areas in the island."

The Road Map covers the areas of policy, institutional mandates and institutional development, hazards, vulnerability and risk assessment, tsunami and multi-hazard early warning systems, disaster preparedness planning and response, disaster mitigation and integration into development planning, integration of disaster risk reduction into development planning, community-based disaster management, public awareness, education and training.

The Road Map Volume II contains over 100 detailed proposals that aim to provide development partners with more information on each activity listed under the seven thematic areas in Volume I. The Road Map also contains proposals on human rights and conflict resolution, thereby also proposing creative approaches and solutions towards a strategy of confidence-building.

The Chief Guest at the occasion Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe said: "Disaster Management Act was passed by Parliament in May 2005, and the National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) presided over by the President and the DMC has been put in place. Both these agencies have been gazetted under the purview of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, and the Disaster Management Act itself will be administered by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights per the Gazette."