Sri Lanka strengthens its capacity for anticipatory action through national multistakeholder training

Sri Lanka strengthens its capacity for anticipatory action through national multistakeholder training

Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), successfully conducted a national training programme for members of the Sri Lanka’s National Anticipatory Action Working Group.

Bringing together government institutions, United Nations agencies, humanitarian organizations and research partners, the three-day programme, held from 23 to 25 June 2026, used a contextualized national curriculum to advance anticipatory action in the country. Designed to strengthen national capacities, promote common technical standards and support the institutionalization of anticipatory action across multiple sectors, the programme was adapted from the anticipatory action training package developed by the Asia-Pacific Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group. This helped to ensure that global and regional good practices were tailored to Sri Lanka’s context.

The training marked an important milestone in Sri Lanka's efforts to move beyond traditional disaster response and towards proactive, forecast-based action that helps communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of predictable hazards before they escalate into emergencies. Established in March 2025 under the leadership of the DMC, the National Anticipatory Action Working Group serves as a platform to coordinate efforts among the government agencies, humanitarian actors, technical institutions and development partners working to strengthen resilience and disaster risk management.

The need to strengthen anticipatory action in Sri Lanka

Opening the programme, Mr Chathura Liyanaarachchi, director of preparedness at the DMC, emphasized that while Sri Lanka has made significant progress in disaster preparedness, early warning systems and emergency response, the increasing frequency and complexity of climate-related risks require new approaches. He highlighted the importance of anticipatory action as a mechanism for strengthening existing disaster-management systems through the improved use of risk information, coordinated decision-making and timely action before disasters occur. He also acknowledged FAO’s continued support in introducing and advancing anticipatory action in Sri Lanka, and in helping to establish the National Anticipatory Action Working Group.

Mr Vimlendra Sharan, FAO’s representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives, noted that around the world, governments and humanitarian organizations are increasingly recognizing that acting before a crisis peaks can save lives, protect livelihoods and significantly reduce the cost of emergency response. He explained that anticipatory action uses forecasts and risk information to trigger early interventions before predictable hazards develop into disasters. 

He also emphasized the relevance of anticipatory action for agriculture and food systems, where disasters often have immediate impacts on crops, livestock, fisheries assets and water resources. Taking action early enables vulnerable communities to protect productive assets, maintain their food security and recover more rapidly from shocks. He reiterated FAO’s commitment to supporting the government through technical expertise, global experience, capacity development and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Key concepts and components of anticipatory action

Throughout the programme, participants explored the key concepts and operational components of anticipatory action, including early warning systems, hazard monitoring, trigger development, protocols, financing mechanisms and operational delivery arrangements. The training also focused on strengthening technical standards and developing a harmonized approach for anticipatory action across priority hazards such as dengue, droughts, floods and zoonotic diseases.

Facilitated by experts from the DMC, FAO, the International Water Management Institute, the Ministry of Health, the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and World Vision, the programme combined technical presentations with practical group exercises. Participants worked collaboratively to:

• define roles and responsibilities across the anticipatory action system
• develop trigger standards for priority hazards
• explore financing mechanisms
• identify approaches for delivering timely support to vulnerable communities before crises emerge.

Drawing on both national and regional experiences, the training fostered the exchange of knowledge among the participants, which will support the development of a common understanding of anticipatory action in Sri Lanka.

A focus on anticipating health risks

A key feature of the initiative was its contribution to strengthening preparedness for health-related and zoonotic disease risks. The training was supported by the ‘One Vision, One Shield: Sri Lanka's Integrated One Health Pandemic Preparedness and Response’ project, which is funded by the Pandemic Fund.

Through this support, the programme contributes to building national capacities for anticipatory action related to health and zoonotic-disease threats, for example by promoting coordinated, multisectoral approaches to preparedness, early warnings and anticipatory actions. These efforts are expected to enhance the country’s ability to protect lives, livelihoods and food security from emerging health risks.

Building for a stronger future

One of the expected outcomes of the training is the development and contextualization of national technical standards for anticipatory action, which will help establish a common framework for this approach across institutions and sectors in the country. This will also support the broader objective of integrating anticipatory action into Sri Lanka’s disaster risk management architecture and administrative training systems, ensuring that it becomes a routine and sustainable component of national practice.

Sri Lanka continues to face growing climate, disaster and health risks. This training was an important step towards building a coordinated and nationally owned anticipatory action system. By strengthening partnerships, enhancing technical capacities and promoting proactive decision-making, the National Anticipatory Action Working Group is helping to lay the foundation for a future in which communities receive timely support before disasters occur, reducing losses and strengthening resilience across the country.