National post-tsunami lessons learned and best practices workshop: report, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 8-9 June 2005

More than 75 representatives of key stakeholders involved in the tsunami response convened in Colombo on the 8th and 9th of June 2005 for a one-and-a-half day ‘Lessons Learned and Best Practice’ workshop. The representatives were from national, provincial, and district government, community representatives, INGOs and NGOs, IFIs, donors and the private sector. The workshop focused on the issues arising during the first eight weeks after the tsunami. The workshop findings represented a constructive review of how to improve disaster management in the future. Most if not all countries experiencing the enormity of devastation caused by the tsunami would be found wanting in their disaster preparedness status.