The International Symposium on Technology Development for Disaster Management, co-hosted by JCDR-CRISiSLab and the Faculty of Computing at SLIIT, took place on December 06, 2024. This event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Department of Irrigation, and academic institutions, to discuss innovative solutions for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Dr. Kaneeka Vidanage and Ms. H.G.D.S. Ashvini from KDU showcased their impactful research:

• Dr. Kaneeka Vidanage, in collaboration with Massey University, presented on “Psychological First Aid (PFA) in Catastrophic Atmospheres via an Ontology-Based Chatbot”, demonstrating the integration of AI in disaster response.
• Ms. H.G.D.S. Ashvini shared findings from her joint study with Massey University, titled “Leveraging GIS for Disaster Management Plans: A Case Study Approach for the Lower Kelani River Basin, Sri Lanka”.

The symposium also underscored pressing challenges in disaster research, particularly around data sharing. A representative from the Ministry of Defence emphasized that data is a national resource that should be shared on a need-to-know basis. Similarly, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reiterated its readiness to facilitate data-sharing initiatives to strengthen research capabilities while respecting confidentiality protocols.

Dr. RMM Pradeep, Director of CDMR-KDU, highlighted the need for academia and industry stakeholders to improve access to centralized data resources to enhance disaster management research outcomes. He praised the contributions of Sri Lankan university researchers and called for greater collaboration between stakeholders to address research and implementation gaps.

One of the most promising outcomes of the event was a proposal by SLIIT and Massey University to form a Disaster Interest Research Group, uniting all key stakeholders in disaster-related activities. This initiative offers KDU a pivotal role as part of the stakeholder group, enabling deeper involvement in collaborative research and policy advocacy.