Adaptation to climate change impacts and disaster risk reduction – Awareness on disaster resilient building construction for stakeholders in disaster prone areas

Floods, landslides, cyclones, and heavy rains caused by various natural disasters caused as effects of climate change often result in the displacement of people due to the complete or partial damage to their dwellings and other buildings, as well as loss of life and causing accidents.

Aiming to adapt to the impact of such disaster situations and reduce disaster risk, an awareness workshop on disaster resilient construction was organized under the chairmanship of Western Province Deputy Chief Secretary (Planning) Mr. K.G.H Senaka P Silva and was held at the Bulathsinghala Divisional Secretariat on 13.12.2024.

This workshop, organized by the Western Province Climate Unit, was attended by officials from the Divisional Secretariat Offices of Bulathsinhala, Palindanuvara, Agalawatta, Horana, Ingiriya, Matugama, Madurawala, who are involved in the construction sector. Officials of the local councils and the local engineering offices of the areas and the stakeholders related to the private sector including contractors working in the construction industry also participated in this event.

Mr. Sumudu Silva of GGGI conducted a session on the impact of climate change on the construction industry, while Mr. M.D.N. Dhanushka, Geologist of the National Building and Construction Research Institute gave an awareness about the strategies of constructing safe buildings in disaster prone areas. Also, the “Technical Guidelines on the Construction of Disaster Resilient Houses” prepared by the National Building and Construction Research Institute was also distributed among the relevant stakeholders during this program.