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Symposium Committees


Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction


14th to 16th December 2020 - Online symposium

Lead Organisers


State Ministry of Defense, Home Affairs and Disaster Management Sri Lanka
Disaster Management Centre/Ministry of Defense, Sri Lanka
University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom
Dept of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa,
Sri Lanka
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center



Organising Committee


Global Disaster Resilience Centre, University of Huddersfield, UK


Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga
(Conf. chair)

Co-Director, Global Disaster Resilience Centre,
School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK

Prof. Richard Haigh
(Conf. chair)

Co-Director, Global Disaster Resilience Centre,
School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK

Dr. Nuwan Dias

Research Fellow in Disaster Resilience,
Global Disaster Resilience Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK

Mr. Asitha De Silva

Doctoral student,
Global Disaster Resilience Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK

Mr. Malith Senevirathne

Doctoral student,
Global Disaster Resilience Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK


Disaster Management Center (DMC), Sri Lanka


Maj. Gen. Sudantha Ranasinghe
(Conf. chair)

Director General, Disaster Management Center (DMC), Sri Lanka

Mr. Sunil Jayaweera
(Conf. chair)

Director, Preparedness Planning, Disaster Management Center (DMC), Sri Lanka

Mr. Chathura Liyana Arachchi

Assistant Director, Preparedness Planning, Disaster Management Center (DMC), Sri Lanka


University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka


Dr. Chandana Siriwardana

Senior Lecturer, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka


Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)


Mr. Sisira Madurapperuma

Director, Preparedness for Response and Recovery, ADPC, Thailand

Ms. Nirmala Fernando

Senior Program Manager, ADPC Country Office, Sri Lanka

Mr. Bandula Wickramaarachchi

Technical Specialist, ADPC Country Office, Sri Lanka




Partners & Collaborators


University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
University of Colombo,
Sri Lanka
University of Ruhuna,
Sri Lanka
Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The Association of Disaster Risk Management Professionals in Sri Lanka
The International Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
(IOC-UNESCO)
IOC-UNESCO IOTWMS, WG 1 on Tsunami Risk, Community Awareness and Preparedness
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
REGARD (REbuildinG AfteR Displacement)
CABARET (Capacity Building in Asia for Resilience EducaTion)
ChildFund Sri Lanka



Funding Partners


Global Challenges Research Fund
UKRI – UK Research and Innovation
University of Huddersfield, UK
The Japan International Cooperation Agency
The United Nations World Food Programme
The United Nations Development Programme
The Asian Preparedness Partnership (APP)



Media Partners

Official Print Partner: Daily Mirror
Media Partner: News 1st



International Scientific Committee


Prof Dilanthi Amaratunga

(Conf. chair)

Professor of Disaster, Risk Reduction and Management, Co-Director, Global Disaster Resilience Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK

Prof Richard Haigh

(Conf. chair)

Professor, Co-Director, Global Disaster Resilience Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK

Prof Siri Hettige

Professor Emeritus of Sociology University of Colombo Sri Lanka

Dr Harkunti Rahayu

The International Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO), ICG/IOTWMS WG 1 on Tsunami Risk

Prof K D N Weerasinghe

Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna Sri Lanka

Prof Champa M Navaratne

Professor Department of Agricultural Engineering University of Ruhuna Sri Lanka

Dr Nishara Fernando

Senior Lecturer Head of the Department of Sociology University of Colombo Sri Lanka

Dr Champika Liyanage

Reader in Facilities Management School of Engineering University of Central Lancashire United Kingdom

Dr Ignacio Aguirre Ayerbe

Researcher Environment Hydraulics Institute IH Cantabria Spain

Prof Boyko Ranguelov

Professor Mining and Geology University Bulgaria

Dr Ruben Paul Borg

Associate Professor Construction and Property Management Faculty for the Built Environment University of MaltaMalta

Dr Chandana Siriwardana

Senior Lecturer Department of Civil Engineering University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka

Prof Ranjith Dissanayake

Professor of Civil Engineering University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka

Dr Chaminda Bandara

Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka

Dr Gayan Wedawatta

Senior Lecturer Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle UK

Dr Crisanto M Lopez

Department Chairperson Department of Biology Ateneo De Manila University Philippines

Prof Charlotte Kendra Gonzales

Program Manager, Climate Change and Disaster Risk, Ateneo Institute of Sustainability;
Associate Professor, Dept. of Environmental Science, Ateneo de Manila University

Dr Zin Mar Lwin

Remote Sensing Department Mandalay Technological University Myanmar

Dr Niraj Thurairajah

Associate Professor Department of Architecture and Built Environment Northumbria University, Newcastle UK

Prof. W.L. Sumahipala

Professor Emeritus, The Open University of Sri Lanka

Dr Nuwan Dias

Research Fellow in Disaster Resilience Global Disaster Resilience Centre School of Applied Sciences University of Huddersfield, UK

Dr Chamindi Malalgoda

Senior Lecturer School of Applied Sciences University of Huddersfield, UK

Dr Senaka Basnayake

Director for the Climate Resilience Department (ADPC)

Dr Kanchana Ginige

Senior Lecturer Department of Architecture and Built Environment Northumbria University, Newcastle UK

Dr Roshani Palliyaguru

Senior Lecturer in Quantity Surveying University of Vocational Technology, SL

Shiromani Jayawardena

Deputy Director (Forecasting and Decision Support), Department of Meteorology, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka

Dr Chathuranganee Jayakody

Post-Doctoral Researcher, School of Applied Sciences University of Huddersfield, UK

Dr Maheshika Sakalasuriya

Global Disaster Resilience Centre, University of Huddersfield, UK

Kinkini Hemachandra

Research Assistant School of Applied Sciences University of Huddersfield, UK




For more information on the event, please contact:

  • Prof Dilanthi Amaratunga, Prof Richard Haigh & Dr. Nuwan Dias
    Global Disaster Resilience Centre, University of Huddersfield, UK
    Email: n.dias@hud.ac.uk


  • Mr Sunil Jayaweera (Director, Preparedness and Planning) & Mr. Chathura Liyanarachchi
    Disaster Management Centre, Vidya Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
    Email: suniljayaweera@dmc.gov.lk / chathura@dmc.gov.lk

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