DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT ACTION FRAMEWORK FOR THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Sri Lanka has reported floods as the most threatening among other disasters like landslides, droughts, cyclones, tsunamis, etc. Aiming to manage the increasing trend of floods in Sri Lanka, a proper flood risk management mechanism, which op- erates from national to local level, should be operated, but according to the literature, there are many gaps in the prevailing flood risk management mechanism. Accord- ingly, the current study aimed to develop a local-level flood risk management action framework (FRMAF). This study was conducted in the lower part of the Deduru Oya basin in Sri Lanka, considering the Divisional Secretary Division level to the Grama Nialadhari Division level as the local administrative level. Primary data were col- lected through a questionnaire survey (n=425) and interviews (n=32). Secondary data were collected through several government departments and publications. Qualitative data analysis methods, including the thematic data analysis method, were used in the study. The FRMAF has introduced the factors and the processes that create floods in the study area and introduced necessary flood risk reduction activities. The FRMAF was developed under five priorities: (1) establishment of local level flood database and introduction of flood risk assessment, (2) flood governance, (3) capacity devel- opment for flood disasters, (4) flood risk management plans and policies, and (5) flood mitigation measures. Under the above priorities, 36 actions were identified to execute at the local level. Accordingly, some existing legislation relevant to flood risk man- agement e.g. Circular No.08/2014 of the Department of Irrigation, and Land Manual of Sri Lanka of the Department of Land Commissioner, should be enforced properly, some new legislation should be enacted, and government agencies and other stake- holders, including the community living in flood-vulnerable areas, should engage in local-level flood management activities efficiently. Such a mechanism can reduce the flood risk at the local level. Flood risk in tank cascades can be minimized through such a FRMAF that can be implemented by respective authorities.