A Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) field programme was successfully conducted on 18 September 2025 in the Padiggama Grama Niladhari Division, under the Medawachchiya Divisional Secretariat Division, Anuradhapura District.
The programme was implemented under the Asian Disaster Readiness Fund (ADRF) – Pillar I project activities of the proposal submitted by the Sri Lanka Preparedness Partnership (SLPP). It was carried out under the thematic area “Enhancing community resilience through Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) approaches,” contributing to the project output of enhanced disaster resilience in the Medawachchiya DS Division through community-led disaster management initiatives.
The programme focused on understanding local disaster risks and developing a participatory disaster risk management and monitoring plan, with active involvement from the community. The session was held at the Padiggama Community Hall and brought together over 60 community members, with strong female participation accounting for approximately 66% of attendees.
In addition to community members, the programme was attended by key local-level stakeholders, including representatives from the Divisional Secretariat, Development Officers, Economic Development Officers, the Public Health Midwife, an elected local government representative, and the village monk. Officers from the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) and the Samurdhi Programme also participated, ensuring coordinated engagement across government and community institutions.
The community meeting applied a range of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools to collectively identify disaster risks and develop a locally grounded disaster risk management and monitoring plan. Key activities included:
Hazard and risk mapping to identify danger zones, safe areas, shelters, and vulnerable groups
Preparation of a seasonal calendar to document periods of floods, droughts, and other hazards
Development of historical timelines of major disaster events and their impacts
Institutional mapping using Venn diagrams to understand relationships between service providers
Problem ranking and prioritization of key risks and interventions
Resource and capacity mapping to identify available local assets
Focus group discussions to ensure the inclusion of women, youth, elders, and other vulnerable groups
The programme strengthened community understanding of disaster risks, enhanced local ownership of preparedness planning, and reinforced the importance of inclusive, participatory approaches in building disaster-resilient communities in the Medawachchiya DS Division.
