A Decade of Impact: A-PAD Celebrates 10 Years of Service in Sri Lanka
Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Sri Lanka (A-PAD SL) is 10 years old! As we mark a decade of excellence, we would like to share a bit about the work we do and the many roles carried out by A-PAD Sri Lanka since its inception on the 20th August, 2014.
A-PAD Sri Lanka is one of the six platforms in the region, established under A-PAD Management Office in Japan. The platform’s primary objective is to promote and facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships for effective disaster management which includes actors from the government sector, private sector, civil society, UN, NGOs, and international organizations. With over 650 partners at present, our network has grown from strength to strength over the years, supporting our various endeavors in the three areas of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Foundational to A-PAD is public-private sector collaboration that not just supports businesses in becoming more resilient in the face of adversity but also helps them direct their resources towards disaster response for faster recovery. Over the last decade, the platform has contributed significantly to enhancing the nation’s disaster management framework, advocated for business and community resilience, and responded to many disasters through coordinated relief efforts.
Looking ahead, A-PAD remains committed to continuing its mission and furthering its initiatives for greater resilience and preparedness for future challenges.
“As we celebrate this significant milestone, I am filled with gratitude for the remarkable journey thus far. It is a testament to the collective efforts of our partners, community, and supporters whose commitment has been crucial in advancing disaster response. By acting as a linkage bridging the public, private, and humanitarian sectors, we have been able to foster innovative approaches to resilience. A-PAD’s SAR program, driven by Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC), is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and showcases the collaborative spirit that defines our work.” – Mr. Firzan Hashim, Country Director, A-PAD Sri Lanka
