Drought, Flood & Climate Change in Sri Lanka and the Business Sector – A Partnership between A-PAD Sri Lanka & World Food Program (WFP)

Disasters and fluctuating climatic conditions during the past decade have been significantly on the rise, especially in Sri Lanka. Thus, causing significant damage to the over-all development of Sri Lanka and particularly the business entity, which faced a 90% loss (Source: PDNA 2016). Recurring calamities have now become private sector’s biggest threat and competitor. Addressing this, the World Food Programme (WFP), developed PRISM, a technological platform that automates information with regard to crop forecasts, changing weather patterns, rainfall forecast and other remote sensing and real-time information tools. In sharing this technical know-how, A-PAD Sri Lanka along with WFP kick-started a preliminary discussion on how these tools can mitigate impact on business operations and revenue loss as well as the information inclusivity. Private sector members while appreciating the initiative of PRISM brought forward recommendations that will assist in enhancing this platform as well as expand the dialogue within the business sector.