| Summary: | The National Workshop on Drought Management: Knowledge Products and Tools for Sri Lanka showcased tools and knowledge to shift Sri Lanka from reactive to proactive drought risk management. The workshop, organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) with the Ministry of Environment, highlighted drought’s slow-onset impacts on livelihoods, agriculture, water, energy, and health, and stressed the increasing frequency and severity under climate change. Presentations introduced the Sri Lanka Drought Management System and the AWARE platform, demonstrating short-term, sub-seasonal, and seasonal forecasting, multiple drought indices (SPI, VCI, SDI), and geospatial tools for risk mapping and contingency planning. Discussions covered financing options, including grant, loan, bond, and insurance instruments, and emphasized nature-based solutions and watershed management. Case studies from Zambia and global initiatives informed a proposed National Drought Action Plan, with sectoral matrices and micro-watershed interventions. Participants recommended stronger institutional coordination through a technical working group, improved data validation, integration of national datasets, and linkage of outputs to relief and planning systems. The workshop concluded with commitments to co-develop a national drought framework, pilot integrations, and pursue capacity building and financing strategies to enhance resilience and anticipatory action across Sri Lanka. Follow-up activities will include pilots, training, and resource mobilization.
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