Sri Lanka Initiative
Developing an Integrated Model for Disaster Resilience
Carbonix is developing partnerships to support disaster preparedness, early warning, community resilience and environmental sustainability in Sri Lanka.
Partnership
A collaboration with Sri Lanka Life Saving
Carbonix Limited and Sri Lanka Life Saving have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on disaster preparedness, community resilience, lifesaving education and capacity-building initiatives in Sri Lanka.
The proposed approach will connect technical systems with institutional coordination and community action. It will seek to ensure that warnings are not only generated but are communicated clearly, reach vulnerable communities in time and lead to effective action.
Priority areas
What the proposed approach will seek to connect
- Multi-hazard early-warning and decision-support systems
- Last-mile communication of warnings
- Community and school preparedness
- Public awareness and risk education
- Training of Trainers and frontline personnel
- Coordination among national, provincial and local institutions
- Inclusive support for vulnerable communities
- Gender-sensitive disaster preparedness
- Data analytics, monitoring and impact evaluation
- Environmental resilience and sustainable infrastructure
Carbonix will seek to work with relevant government institutions, including education and youth-affairs bodies, as well as universities, schools, NGOs, community organisations, public-health specialists and technology providers. The long-term objective is to develop an effective Sri Lankan model that can be responsibly adapted for other Commonwealth and emerging-market countries.
Lessons from Cyclone Ditwah
Why climate action cannot wait
Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in late November 2025, demonstrated the country’s exposure to severe and increasingly disruptive climate-related hazards.
UNDP geospatial analysis estimated that the resulting floods inundated more than 1.1 million hectares—almost one-fifth of Sri Lanka’s land area—and affected areas in which approximately 2.3 million people were living. The World Bank subsequently estimated direct physical damage of approximately US$4.1 billion, equivalent to around 4% of the country’s GDP.
The scale of the disaster reinforced the need to move beyond responding to individual emergencies. Sustained investment is required in risk reduction, preparedness, early-warning systems, institutional coordination, public awareness, community capacity and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Carbonix seeks to support this transition by connecting technology and reliable data with institutional capability and community-level action. Particular attention will be given to last-mile communication—helping ensure that warnings reach vulnerable communities promptly, in accessible and understandable forms, and are supported by clear guidance, evacuation arrangements and coordinated local action.
The lessons arising from Cyclone Ditwah can help inform the development of a practical disaster-resilience model for Sri Lanka—one that can be tested, strengthened and, where appropriate, adapted for other climate-vulnerable countries.
Data sources and impact metrics compiled by the UNDP and World Bank.
Learning and skills
Connecting resilience, learning and skills
Effective disaster preparedness depends not only on technology and infrastructure, but also on informed communities, capable institutions and people equipped with the knowledge and skills to act.
Through its Sri Lanka initiative, Carbonix intends to explore an integrated model connecting disaster preparedness, digital learning, vocational education, skills development and community capacity building. This approach could support public awareness, strengthen local response capabilities and help vulnerable communities develop practical skills relevant to climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative will seek to bring together public institutions, universities, vocational and educational bodies, communities, civil-society organisations and specialist partners. Carbonix’s collaboration with Sri Lanka Life Saving provides a valuable foundation for developing community training and lifesaving capacity, while potential engagement with UK-based universities and institutions could contribute wider expertise and international learning.
Any formal engagement with universities or other public institutions would be developed through the appropriate institutional procedures and subject to the necessary approvals.
Geography
An initial focus, with a longer view
Sri Lanka is an important initial focus, with the long-term objective of developing an effective Sri Lankan model that can be responsibly adapted for other Commonwealth and emerging-market countries.
Carbonix will seek to work with relevant government institutions, including education and youth-affairs bodies, as well as universities, schools, NGOs, community organisations, public-health specialists and technology providers.
Meet the Carbonix teamCollaborate
Explore a Sri Lanka partnership
Discussions are welcome with institutions that wish to strengthen disaster preparedness, early warning, community safety and environmental sustainability in Sri Lanka.