ABSTRACT
Sri Lanka, as an island nation, faces severe threats to its existence as well as its eco-diversity emanating from extensive climate change noticeable in South Asia. A study of the unprecedented natural crisis of 2004 provides insight into the unprecedented nature of the crisis posed by climate change. The tsunami, which was the most devastating natural disaster in Sri Lanka’s history, resulted in losses of over $1 billion in assets and $330 million in potential output, according to government estimates, with an approximate death toll of nearly 35,000 people. This chapter provides an in-depth study of the disaster of 2004 and the environmental threats still plaguing Sri Lanka. The case study generates awareness about the ways and means of slowing down environmental degradation and resultant climate change and also better understanding about effective techniques of disaster management and underscores the desirability of concerted action on the part of all stakeholders in South Asia to cope with climate change. The study emphasises the pro-active role to be assumed at two key levels: disaster prevention and disaster management. While for disaster prevention, the role of science and technology, seismology and weather pattern predictions are crucial, at the level of disaster management, the aim is to make local governments adequately empowered and equipped for disaster responses. There must also be effective mobilisation of the civil society to implement management techniques and prevent the escalation of the crisis.
