The Validation Workshop and Table-Top Simulation Exercise for the Landslide Early Warning Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) was successfully conducted on 2 February 2026 at the Main Auditorium of the Walasmulla Divisional Secretariat, with the participation of 63 stakeholders. This workshop followed the development of the SOPs through a consultative process carried out on 24 November 2025.
The workshop was implemented under the Asian Disaster Readiness Fund (ADRF) – Pillar I Project, with the objective of reviewing, testing, and validating the drafted SOPs. It also aimed to strengthen a forecast-based, locally led early warning and early action system for landslide-prone communities within the Walasmulla Divisional Secretariat Division of the Hambantota District.
Participants representing government institutions, security forces, local authorities, community-based disaster management committees, Landslide Risk Monitoring Committees (LRMCs), the private sector, and civil society organizations actively engaged in the following activities:
Validation of the drafted Landslide Early Warning SOPs
Review of institutional roles, responsibilities, and communication mechanisms
Participation in a scenario-based table-top simulation exercise to assess preparedness and coordination during a hypothetical landslide emergency
Interactive discussions and group work enabled participants to identify strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement, ensuring that the SOPs are practical, people-centred, and locally applicable, while also strengthening coordination and shared ownership among stakeholders.
At the conclusion of the workshop, essential preparedness items were distributed to members of the Landslide Risk Monitoring Committees (LRMCs) and Rural Disaster Management Committees by coordination officers, further supporting community-level preparedness and response efforts.
