The 12th Annual Research Symposium 2022 themed Building Resilience amidst Economic Challenges organized by National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) was held on 26th January 2023 at Cinema Lounge of BMICH premises successfully. This important event was hosted with the participation of the researchers, policy makers, academics & multidisciplinary experts in disaster management.
General Kamal Gunaratna (retd.), the Secretary to the ministry of Defense participated as the chief guest of the event. During the inaugural session, Eng. (Dr.) Asiri Karunawardene, Director General of NBRO delivered the welcome address. Afterwards Mr. Yamada Tetsuya, the Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office addressed the audience. Keynote address was delivered by Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne, Head, Department of Economics, University of Colombo. Then there were several special launchings related to symposium during the session.
- NBRO Symposium proceedings -12th Annual Research Symposium 2022
- Manual on Systematic Assessment of Chemical Disaster Risk in Sri Lanka
- Launching SABO Project Manuals
- Annual Report on Urban Air quality in Sri Lanka 2022 and Video presentation
- Video Briefing on Patent license received for fabric reinforced paving block
- Demonstration on the database of the mitigated landslides locations
- Demonstration of the Living lab system developed for Kalutara through NBRO and the University of Salford under technical collaboration.
A panel discussion on Inclusive Risk Management and Resilience-Building amidst Economic Challenges demarcated the beginning of the symposium that was moderated by Ms. Vositha Wijenayake and held under four main aspects related with Building Resilience amidst Economic Challenge. Mr. Susith Arambepola, Consultant DRR Specialist, Former Executive Director, ADPC talked on Economic Challenges and Climate-Induced Disaster Risk; Dr. A Saarakan, the Additional Director General, Department of Development Finance of Ministry of Finance, talked on Economic Challenges and Risk Management Strategies; Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake, Senior Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya talked on Resilience in the Built Environment, Key concerns for a long term approach; Landslide Risk Management amidst Economic Challenges were described by Dr. H.A.G. Jayathissa, Director, Landslide Research and Risk Management Division, NBRO and Best practices on risk finance and transfer in the context of climate change and human mobility was discussed Mr. Dennis Mombauer, Director, Research & Knowledge Management, SLYCAN Trust.
Day was dimensioned with four technical sessions related with the main theme of Building Resilience amidst Economic Challenges. Four researchers were privileged to present their researches under each of the four technical sessions making a total count of sixteen research presentations.
The first technical session themed “Understanding Disaster Risk” was chaired by Prof. Ranjith Premasiri, Professor of Department of Earth Resources Engineering, University of Moratuwa.
“Risk Reduction for Resilience” the second technical session was chaired by Prof. Udeni Nawagamuwa, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa.
Prof. Chintha Jayasinghe, Senior Professor of Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa chaired the third technical session on Regulating Development for Resilience
The fourth technical session on Quality Assurance for Resilience was Chaired by Prof. S.M.A. Nanayakkara, Senior Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa.
NBRO expresses overwhelming gratitude towards all the parties including invitees, researches, academics, funding agencies and participants who contributed towards making this event a success.
