ComBank supports DMC to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster readiness

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has committed funding to fully revamp the Disaster Management Centre’s (DMC) National RiskInfo Spatial Data Portal, strengthening the country’s disaster preparedness and risk management capacity under the Bank’s “Rebuild Together” initiative launched after Cyclone Ditwah.

The RiskInfo Spatial Data Portal, together with the DesInventar database, serves as a national platform for multi-hazard risk maps, exposure and vulnerability data, and historical disaster loss records. These systems support evidence-based planning, early warnings, emergency response, and decision-making related to safe relocation, infrastructure resilience, urban redevelopment, and sustainable economic development.

Cyclone Ditwah underscored the need for more modern and accessible risk information systems. After reviewing the existing platform, Commercial Bank identified the need to upgrade the portal’s architecture, visualisation tools, and data-sharing features. The planned enhancements aim to make disaster information more accessible, interoperable, and responsive to evolving climate risks.

Commercial Bank Chief Risk Officer Kapila Hettihamu said the initiative reflects the Bank’s commitment to moving the country from reactive disaster recovery toward proactive, data-driven risk management, noting that improved systems can save lives, protect livelihoods, and reduce long-term economic losses.

The partnership was formalised at an event held at the Disaster Management Centre, attended by DMC Director General Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda (Retd.), senior DMC officials, and representatives from Commercial Bank.

By supporting the upgrade of the RiskInfo Spatial Data Portal, Commercial Bank emphasised that its contribution focuses on long-term resilience. As climate threats increasingly translate into financial risks, stronger disaster data systems will also support the banking sector in better credit assessments, safeguarding assets, climate-resilient lending, and responsible investment planning.