A-PAD Sri Lanka held an international symposium on August 29 in Colombo, Sri Lanka on the theme of “Turning the Tide: 20 Years of Tsunami Readiness and Resilience.”

This year marks 20 years since the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and tsunami that killed many people. The event was attended by representatives and staff from the six A-PAD member countries, as well as other disaster prevention experts. At the beginning of the event, the Japanese Embassy and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) delivered condolence messages and efforts to rebuild both countries to date. The second part of the panel discussion brought together tsunami and disaster prevention experts from various countries.

Makoto Hatakeyama of Mori wa Umi no Koibito, a Japanese nonprofit that has been supporting the region’s recovery, also took stage. The audience applauded when he said, “When thinking about disaster preparedness, we need to consider both safety and daily life. Rather than building huge infrastructure, we should pursue solutions that allow the residents who live there to be proud of their villages and towns.” 

Watch the recording here.