A programme is working to enhance Sri Lanka’s recovery from the 2004 tsunami by improving environmental infrastructure in the coastal district of Ampara.

The Environmental Remediation Programme (ERP) focuses on solid waste management, environmental restoration and improvement of urban surface water drainage. The programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS, in collaboration with the local authorities and communities in each stage of the project, from design to completion.

Managing solid waste

Speaking in the Senate, Foreign Minister Bob Carr today said the lead-up to CHOGM offers an opportunity for the Commonwealth to highlight areas that require progress in Sri Lanka, and offer practical assistance where appropriate.

Senator Carr said engagement, not isolation, is the most effective way to promote human rights, the rule of law and democratic governance in Sri Lanka. For this reason, the Australian Government has reaffirmed it will attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka.

"I will continue to urge progress on human rights in Sri Lanka," Senator Carr said.

05/16/2013 12:51 GMT

COLOMBO, May 16, 2013 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops have completed clearing mines from all areas needed for re-settlement and farming in the island's former war zone, the military said Thursday, nearly four years after crushing Tamil rebels.

The military said it had removed nearly a million unexploded ordnances, including anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices, from the northern and eastern regions where the rebels fought for independence.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tropical Cyclone Mahasen is due to make landfall in Bangladesh, near the Burma border, on May 16 with winds of up to 63 miles per hour

• The storm has already caused 7 deaths and displaced 115,000 people in Sri Lanka as it tracked near the country

• Humanitarian preparedness activities are underway in Bangladesh and Burma, including pre-positioning of relief supplies and evacuation of populations residing in areas at high risk of severe storm impact

05/15/2013 11:12 GMT

COLOMBO, May 15, 2013 (AFP) - At least seven people have been killed and two are missing in floods and mudslides following heavy rain across Sri Lanka, the disaster management centre said Wednesday.

A tropical cyclone east of the island did not make landfall but caused unusually heavy rain in the past two days which triggered flash floods, the Disaster Management Centre said.

Five of the dead drowned in flooding while two were buried in mudslides.

The National Disaster Management Center (NDMC) in coordination with the District Secretariat Divisions is taking all necessary measures to support those affected by floods.
According to the NDMC situation report almost 37,000 people belonging to over 9,100 families were still being affected by the rainy weather as at yesterday noon.

It said 4,962 people belonging to 1,281 families had been evacuated to safer locations. Gampaha and Colombo districts were the most affected districts by the inclement weather.

Aid agencies that promote one-off counselling sessions after major traumas only prolong victims' suffering

One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded hit on Boxing Day 2004. The resulting tsunami devastated huge swaths of the Indian Ocean coastline and left an estimated quarter of a million people dead across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Aid agencies quickly arrived to help battered and traumatised survivors.

Read the full report on the Guardian

Kent R. Hill, Senior Vice President, World Vision on Friday, May 10th 2013

The development field has been exploring for years ways to harness the power of technology to benefit those in need, especially mobile technology, which can reach people in remote areas who need food, health, education, and other assistance quickly and well.

06/03/2013 – Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) today handed over 3 ambulances worth 28.5 million rupees to 3 hospitals in the Eastern Province.

Trincomalee General Hospital, Gomarankadawala Base Hospital & Padaviya Base Hospital are the recipients of this new ambulances.

The handover ceremony took place in Colombo today (06/03/2013) under the patronage of the President of SLRCS Jagath Abeysinghe, Deputy Director General of SLRCS Sudath Madugalle & the Country Coordinator of German Red Cross Tim Bray.