Workshop on Disaster Management and the Impacts of Cyclone Ditwah

Date: 18 June 2026

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy organized a workshop titled “Disaster Management and the Impacts of Cyclone Ditwah” on 18 June 2026 for final-year Political Science Special Degree students.

The workshop was designed as preparatory training for the Department’s annual field research programme under the theme “Disaster Risk Governance and Cyclone Ditwah Impacts in Sri Lanka.”

The workshop focused on disaster prevention, preparedness, emergency response, recovery, and the institutional mechanisms of disaster risk governance in Sri Lanka. Particular attention was given to the collaborative roles of government institutions and civil society organizations in responding to natural disasters.

The resource persons were:

• Dr. Wasantha Senadeera, Scientist, National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) 
• Ms. Anjali Senawirathna, Director, Disaster Management Centre 
• Mr. Sampath Randunna, Senior Project Coordinator, National Peace Council 
• Ms. Nirmi Vitarana, Visiting Lecturer, Department of Disability Studies, University of Kelaniya and Research Consultant, Commonwealth of Learning 

The interactive sessions enabled students to gain practical knowledge before undertaking field-based research.