Sunday Times 2
Asia Pacific Disaster Management symposium opens in Colombo on Wednesday
View(s):Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) Sri Lanka will host the 4th International Symposium on November 22 at the Hilton, Colombo, under the theme “Urban Resilience: Building Inclusive and Competitive Cities Amidst Disasters”.
A-PAD SL affiliated to A-PAD Japan is aimed at coordinating and supporting disaster preparedness, mitigation, disaster risk reduction, capacity-building and relief activities across Sri Lanka. The platform established in 2014 links agencies and organisations of the public and private sector in humanitarian, development and Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
As evident from the past, Sri Lanka is prone to many disasters and it is expected to worsen now more than ever. Hence, be it construction of buildings, business continuity management, health, it is vital that every aspect of life be aligned according to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management to develop Sri Lanka and other countries in the region to be inclusive and competitive cities amidst disasters. In 2016 and 2017, as a result of the floods and landslides alone, about 700,000 persons were affected, resulting in major economic damages and losses. In light of this problem locally and globally, A-PAD SL has identified the 11th Sustainable Development Goal which is “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, as an apt and timely area to be addressed.
The International Symposium 2017 will address the private sector and incorporate expertise from Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Philippines and Sri Lanka. The Chief Guest for the event will be Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and the keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Harsha De Silva, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Policy Planning and Economic Development. The symposium will also be graced by the presence of Japan’s Ambassador Kenichi Suganuma and A-PAD CEO Kensuke Onishi.