Sri Lanka Launches Digital Systems for Cyclone Ditwah Relief 📈

• Overall Initiative: The National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) launched two digital platforms—the Compensation Management System and the Community Inquiry Mechanism—to streamline relief for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. • Key Collaborators: Funded by the Government of Norway, the project was developed with technical support from UNICEF Sri Lanka and the UN Volunteers network (utilizing 34 volunteers across ICT and community data-gathering roles). • Compensation Management System: Replaces manual, time-consuming procedures. Disaster-affected families can now submit claims digitally via Grama Niladhari officers, eliminating the need to travel long distances or make repeated visits to government agencies. • Community Inquiry Mechanism: Allows citizens to submit and track queries regarding relief, allowances, and resettlement. Access points include a dedicated QR code and a trilingual hotline (0716 807 807), operating weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Users receive a unique reference code to track inquiry status in Sinhala, Tamil, or English. • Economic & National Impact: Aligned with the UN Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP) and national digitalization goals, the systems modernize public service delivery, reduce administrative burdens, and improve transparency. Future integration is planned with the Welfare Benefits Board and the Election Commission to further strengthen the social safety net and emergency response infrastructure.