### Cabinet Approves Science-Based Disaster Resilience Strategy 📈

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has sanctioned a national strategy to shift disaster management from reactive response to a science-based prevention framework, following the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah. • Economic Impact: Cyclone Ditwah (Nov 2025) caused an estimated US$ 4.1 Bn in total economic losses, affecting 2.3 million people and exposing critical vulnerabilities in infrastructure and agriculture. • Strategic Shift: The Ministry of Science and Technology will lead a transition toward a "pre-disaster resilience framework" based on climatic stress examinations and data-driven preparedness. • Key Recommendations: The strategy adopts 14 core recommendations (7 for research/system development and 7 for implementation) aimed at protecting mountain and coastal ecosystems. • National Context: Described as a "climate stress test," the initiative seeks to safeguard national employment and economic stability by hardening infrastructure against future extreme weather events.