A stakeholder workshop was organised today(30.02.2018) at Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment led by the Climate Change Secretariat of Sri Lanka, the UNDP, Third National Communication Consortium and the Global Environment Facility. The workshop was organised with the objective of gaining input from the government sector stakeholders to strengthen the communication process on climate change and to develop a national communication strategy on climate change for Sri Lanka.

Dr. Sunimal Jayathunga, Director of the Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Mr. Sumudu Silva, the Project Associate of the United Nations Development Program, Ms. Vositha Wijenayake, Attorney at Law and the Executive Director of the SLYCAN Trust and Kumar Lopez, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Press Institute were speakers at the workshop.

The workshop focused on ways to increase the efficiency of the government institutions in communicating on climate change; limitations in the communicating on impacts of climate change to the public of Sri Lanka, especially to those most vulnerable to climate impacts; effective engagement of multiple stakeholders in communicating on climate change.   

Representatives of various ministries and institutions including, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Disaster Management Center, Department of Agriculture, National Building Research Organization, Ministry of Fisheries, Central Environmental Authority and Road Development Authority were present at the workshop attended the workshop.

The inputs received and communication gaps and needs identified at the workshop are to be incorporated into the National Communication Strategy on Climate Change.