Disaster Risk Management & Development Seminar Series

Date & Time: 20th August 2025 11:00am

Location: AUT City Campus, WF Building, Room 210

Presenter: Damithri Chathumani, Auckland University of Technology

Biography: Damithri Chathumani Jayasekara is a disaster risk reduction and community resilience specialist with over a decade of experience in Sri Lanka and Aotearoa, New Zealand. Her research focuses on the integration of local and scientific knowledge in ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction, participatory governance, and inclusive recovery planning. She holds a PhD ((viva passed; awaiting final approval) in Emergency and Disaster Management from Auckland University of Technology, where her doctoral work examined how community engagement and local knowledge can strengthen the long-term sustainability of Eco-DRR strategies. In addition to her academic work, she has led disaster recovery programmes, collaborated with international agencies, and founded initiatives that support gender equity and community well-being in disaster contexts

Abstract: Despite increasing awareness of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction, community participation remains limited due to the dominance of Western scientific paradigms, which often marginalize local knowledge and involvement. This study explores how integrating local practices with scientific expertise can improve Eco-DRR's implementation and sustainability in Sri Lanka.

Conducted through a qualitative framework, the research comprised two phases: Key informant interviews with practitioners in disaster risk reduction and community case studies in Kolonnawa (urban) and Rathnapura (rural). Both practitioners and community members recognize the role of ecosystems in hazard mitigation, but the connections between ecosystems and cultural or socioeconomic vulnerabilities are often overlooked. Issues like political marginalization and competing survival needs restrict communities' ability to engage in sustainable practices.

The findings highlight community readiness as crucial for locally led Eco-DRR, yet challenges such as top-down governance and the prioritization of scientific knowledge obstruct progress. The study calls for a shift toward inclusive, context-sensitive approaches that acknowledge community expertise and promote participatory decision-making.

Ultimately, effective Eco-DRR in Sri Lanka requires not only technical solutions but also a re-evaluation of how knowledge is valued and communities are engaged, bridging local and scientific knowledge to address deeper socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

Keywords: Ecosystems, Disaster Risks, Hazards, Vulnerabilities, Local knowledge