Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has decided to seek technical assistance from the World Meteorological Organization to enhance the country’s ability to forecast and provide early warnings for severe weather, floods, and landslides.
The Department of Government Information announced that the Climate Resilience Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach, funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank, will be implemented over nine years in three phases.
The first component of this five-part program aims to upgrade the skills, technology, and infrastructure of relevant institutions to enable accurate weather forecasting and pre-assessment of weather conditions. This initiative is expected to allow for quick and precise predictions of high-risk weather and climate conditions, thereby reducing the estimated annual cost of US$ 313 million currently spent by the government on post-disaster management.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Irrigation to engage the services of the World Meteorological Organization. This international organization, renowned for its expertise in meteorology and hydrology, will provide the technical capability needed to enhance emergency warning systems.
