In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah’s devastation, a dedicated team of about seventy (70) experts and students from the Universities of Peradeniya, Moratuwa, and Jayawardanapura sprang into action. Comprising lecturers, research assistants, instructors, and undergraduates, the group performed an initial damage assessment across approximately 90 schools in Sri Lanka’s Central Province.
Coordinated by the University of Peradeniya and guided by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), the assessment focused on evaluating structural damage, identifying hazards, and recommending immediate mitigation measures. This collaborative effort highlights our department’s pivotal role in disaster response, applying civil engineering principles to support affected communities and accelerate recovery.
The mission successfully collected critical data to support informed decision-making by policymakers while providing invaluable hands-on field experience to participants. This initiative highlights the University of Peradeniyaβs leadership in promoting resilient infrastructure and community-oriented engineering solutions, and it reflects the Civil Engineering Departmentβs strong commitment to disaster resilience, practical application of engineering principles, and public service by effectively linking academic knowledge with real-world challenges in Sri Lankaβs vulnerable regions.
