Colombo, Aug. 19 (Daily Mirror) – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) and under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, recently conducted a national simulation-based program to strengthen youth participation in disaster preparedness and response.

Held at the NYSC Auditorium in Maharagama to mark International Youth Day 2026, the program titled ‘The Resilience Lab: Local Youth Action in Crisis Response,’ brought together more than 100 youth leaders from Youth Clubs across the country.Organized under this year’s International Youth Day theme, ‘Different Contexts, Shared Aspirations,’ the initiative aimed to promote a shift from reactive disaster response to proactive preparedness, with a focus on early warning dissemination and strengthening community resilience.

The program drew lessons from recent disasters, including Cyclone Ditwah, which affected around 2.2 million people, claimed more than 600 lives and damaged nearly 115,000 homes.Through tabletop simulations based on floods, landslides and dengue outbreaks, the participants were trained to make critical decisions during emergencies and strengthen community-level preparedness.Particular attention was given to ensuring that early warnings reach vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, older persons and persons with disabilities. The exercises also incorporated sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender considerations into emergency response planning.

The program was conducted with technical support from the Disaster Management Centre, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka.Speaking at the program NYSC Chairman and Director General of Youth Affairs Attorney-at-Law Supun Wijerathna said the council’s extensive youth network could play a vital role in responding to disasters.He said the NYSC has a network of young people with the time, flexibility, skills, energy and commitment to contribute actively when disasters occur.

“A key objective of this program is therefore to build proactive youth leadership, not simply young people who respond after a disaster occurs, but young leaders who can help disseminate early warnings, organize communities and take active steps to protect lives,” he said.UNFPA Sri Lanka Assistant Representative Dr. Dayanath Ranatunga said young people should be viewed not merely as recipients of disaster relief, but as active communicators, first responders and community mobilisers.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that early warning systems reach vulnerable individuals, including older people living alone, persons with disabilities and pregnant women who may require urgent healthcare.According to 2024 Census data, around 4.78 million people aged between 15 and 29 live in Sri Lanka, accounting for nearly 22% of the country’s population.

The NYSC network comprises around 14,000 Youth Clubs, providing grassroots access to more than 280,000 young people across the country.