A-PAD Sri Lanka and University of Colombo Unite for Tsunami Resilience Art Showcase

The Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Department of International Relations, University of Colombo, recently hosted an impactful art exhibition titled “Resilience and Renewal: 20 Years Since the Tsunami” at the University of Colombo. The exhibition showcased artwork from Sri Lankan students, depicting their perspectives on resilience and renewal two decades after the devastating 2004 tsunami. The event was graced by the presence of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, who delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the crucial role of youth in disaster preparedness. The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, the Country Director of A-PAD Sri Lanka, Head of the Department of International Relations, and other department heads were also in attendance, alongside numerous university students.

Adding an international dimension to the exhibition, nine students from Kindai University, Japan, led by Professor of International Studies Ms. Megumi Kuwana, participated in the event as part of their study tour to Sri Lanka. Their involvement fostered cross-cultural dialogue on disaster preparedness and management. The success of this art exhibition has set the stage for the upcoming International Symposium, “Turning the Tide: 20 Years of Tsunami Readiness and Resilience,” scheduled for August 29, 2024, at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. Selected artworks from the exhibition will be displayed at the symposium, providing a powerful visual narrative to complement the discourse on tsunami readiness and resilience.