Disaster Profile

Sri Lanka National Report on
Disaster Risk, Poverty and Human Development Relationship
3 Disaster Event & Impact Profile

3.1 Introduction
This chapter describes the major disasters based on limit) at district level and from 9 to 74 (upper limit) at
their patterns of distribution (chronological, spatial DS level. It can be observed that while taking the
and seasonal) and the related impacts. The chapter number of people affected by disasters into
also gives a brief overview of the disaster event consideration, the share of climate related disasters
profile of Sri Lanka and how each impact variable has is 96%, showing the dominating importance of these
been distributed chronologically, seasonally and disasters over the others.
spatially. Extreme wind events have caused the most number
The disaster event profile of Sri Lanka is based on the of deaths (926). Most of the damage and destruction
Sri Lanka Historical Disaster Information System, to houses has been due to floods (232,236) and wind
designed by the Disaster Management Centre events (201,793). Droughts have been mostly
(DMC), Ministry of Disaster Management, in line with responsible for agricultural loss, followed by floods
DesInventar system developed by the LA RED in and wind events. Geological disasters like
Latin America. The DesInventar methodology has earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes and landslides can
used historical data to measure the impact of cause massive destruction to lives and property. In
disasters, collected in a systematic and Sri Lanka, landslide is the most common geological
homogeneous manner in the process of identifying hazard. Earthquakes of low to moderate magnitude
disasters and vulnerabilities and thus disaster risks have been recorded over the past 400 years in Sri
on specific geographical units of Sri Lanka, i.e. Lanka with very limited damage. Therefore, no
Districts and Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs). accurate data is available.
The disaster event profile of Sri Lanka presents how The disaster event and impact profiles outline
disaster events of different categories have been different types of disaster events with the intensity of
distributed chronologically, seasonally and spatially. their effects and spatial distribution, showing types
Distribution wise, the overall disaster typology in Sri of events and to what degree they are relevant
Lanka is not distributed evenly. In terms of annual compared to other events.
time series distribution, animal attacks seem to have The relevance is based on the number of events and
increased. However, disasters like floods seem to different effect variables, such as (a) Number of
take place every year. people affected, (b) Loss of life, (c) Number of
The seasonal distribution of disasters shows two destroyed or damaged houses/buildings, and (d)
peaks; one from April to June and the other from Loss of agricultural crops. Selected disaster
October to December, representing the t wo categories are taken into consideration for the
monsoon seasons. Spatial distribution of disaster analysis and the data of the selected attributes of
records is uneven, ranging from 96 to 1887 (upper disaster categories is assessed from different
37
Chapter 03
Disaster Event and Impact Profile
perspectives to portray the disaster situation of Sri nDifferent Disaster Categories.

Lanka for the period of 1974-2008. nImpacts due to Different Disaster Categories.
In the maps in this chapter illustrating the spatial Also in these maps, the DS division maps may
distribution of the following variables at district and appear to be inconsistent when compared with the
division levels, “0/No data” in the scale representing district level maps. This is due to the non-availability
the respective district/division, means either there is of data at the DS division level. Up to the year 2005 the
no data or there have been no events / impacts disaster related data are available only at district level
pertaining to that district/division: and the data gathered since then are available at DS
nDisaster events division level also. In spite of this shortcoming DS
nPeople affected Division maps have been presented along with the
District level maps in the relevant sections, so that
nLoss of life due to disasters.
wherever data is available these will be useful for the
nHouses destroyed and damaged by disasters. reader.
nLosses to agricultural crops due to disasters.
3.2 Disaster Profiles
3.2.1 DesInventar Disaster Profile
Figures 16 and 17 below show that there are many representing 50% of the total, followed by fire, flood,
types of events in the country but the most common and extreme wind events representing 19%, 10% and
are animal attacks (7,203 events), fire (2,704 events- 9%, respectively. These four disaster types cover
urban and forest fire), flood (1,397 events- riverine 88% of total number of events during the period
flood, urban flood, flash flood, rain), extreme wind under review. The seven disaster events mentioned
events (1,263 events- Cyclone, Strong Wind, Surge, above are analyzed in the descending order of the
Gale), drought (285 events), landslides (1,156 number of events during the period under
events) and lightning (295 events). This figure consideration in this chapter. The 2004 Tsunami is
illustrates that during the period 1974-2008, animal considered a singular event and thus has not been
attacks had been the most common disaster, considered for this analysis of disaster profile.
Figure 16 : 1.99%
9.77%
Profile of
2.06% Animal attack
Different
Extreme Wind Events
Disaster 8.08% 50.36%
Fire
Categories:
Lanslides
1974-2008
Lightning
18.91% Floods
Drought
source
8.83%
www.desinventar.lk
38
Figure 17 : 8000
Profile of 7000
Different
6000
Disaster Number of events
5000
Categories:
1974-2008 4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Animal Extreme Fire Lanslides Lightning Floods Drought
Attack Wind
source Events
www.desinventar.lk Disaster Types
3.2.2 Annual Time Series Distribution
Figure 18 shows the chronological distribution of increase in the number of disaster events fluctuating
disaster types over the period January 1974 to from 0 to 200 events with several peaks. Secondly,
December 2008. It illustrates the dominance of disaster events during the period 1997- 2006 show a
animal attacks over a certain period of time. The clear trend of very rapid increase of number of
sudden increase in animal attacks after 1998 is disaster events from about 200 records in 1997 to
mainly due to the commencement of systematic more than 1,800 records in 2006, with the only break
recording of events, rather than a sudden outbreak of in the trend observed in 2001. There is a sharp break
animal attacks. There are two main trends shown in in this trend beginning 2007, but it is too early to
the figure. First, from 1974 to 1997, there is gradual predict whether this is a start of a declining trend or
not.
Figure 18 : 2000
Chronological 1800
Trend of 1600
Disaster Events 1400
1200
Number of events
Lightning 1000
Lanslides
800
Floods
600
Fire
Drought 400
Extreme Wind 200

Events
0
Animal Attack
1982
1992
2002
1978
1988
1998
2008
1974
1976
1980
1984
1986
1990
1994
1996
2000
2004
2006
source
Year
www.desinventar.lk
39
Chapter 03
3.2.3 Seasonal Distribution period. The number of animal attacks is less during
the period December, January and February based
The seasonal distribution of disaster types during the
on seasonal Distribution.
period from January 1974 to December 2008 is
shown in Figure 19. It shows the cyclical distribution 3.2.4 Spatial Distribution
of events with two peaks; one from April to June and Map 9 illustrates the geographical distribution of
the other from October to December, demonstrating disasters across Districts and Divisional Secretariat
a close link with the two monsoon seasons in Sri Divisions in the country. The spatial distribution of
Lanka, i.e. south-west and second inter-monsoons. disaster events is uneven, ranging from more than
May is the peak of south-west monsoon, and 1,887 to less than 96 at district level and from more
October – November is the peak of second inter than 74 to less than 9 at DS level, as can be observed
monsoon. These are the peak months for the in this map.
occurrence of disaster events, with the highest
The highest number of events has occurred within
affected months exceeding 1,400 events. On the
the district cluster of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa,
other hand, February (end of northeast monsoon)
Matale and Kurunegala. The least disaster-prone
and August (middle of southwest monsoon), two
districts with the minimum number of events
months are the months with the lowest number of
occurring are Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar and
recorded disaster events, which ranged from 800-
Kilinochchi because of data availability. The DS
1,000 events.
divisions with the largest number of occurrences of
Seasonal distribution of disaster typology shows that
disaster events are found within the above
all disaster types appear to occur throughout the
mentioned districts. However, a few DS divisions in
year, with seasonal changes in scale. Occurrences
the southern part of the island like Tissamaharama
of floods and landslides are higher in May, October,
also appear to have a large number of occurrences
November & December, while drought is more
of disaster events.
prevalent in August and March on Southwest
monsoon and beginning of first inter monsoonal
Figure 19 : 1600
Seasonal
1400
Distribution of
Disaster Events: 1200
Number of events
1974 - 2008 1000
800
Lightning
600
Lanslides
Floods 400
Fire
200
Drought
Extreme wind 0
events
January
December
February
March
September
November
April
May
August
June
October
July
Animal attack
source
Month
www.desinventar.lk
40
Map 9 :
Spatial
Distribution
of Events by
Districts and
DS Divisions :
1974-2008
source
District DS Divisions
www.desinventar.lk
Box 2 : The different disaster categories in Sri Lanka do Polonnaruwa and Kurunegala are the hotspot
Conclusions on not seem to be distributed evenly. Sri Lanka seems districts for disaster risk, whereas, districts such as
Disaster to be most affected by animal attacks (50%). Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar and Kilinochchi
Categories and Although the other disasters do not account for take on a cooler stance.
Events such a high proportion to Sri Lanka's disaster It must be noted here that in spite of the
event profile, they make up similar proportions insignificant place occupied by drought in the
with respect to each other. In terms of time series Profile of Different Disaster Categories compared
distribution, animal attacks seem to have with the very high places taken up by some other
increased within the years of 1999-2007, which is disasters, it should not be underestimated.
attributable to the recent availability of data about Drought hazard when occurs, affect a very large
wild elephant attacks from the Department of geographical area causing severe damage to
Wildlife Conservation. crops and affecting the population (and livestock)
However, disasters such as floods seem to take adversely, though there is no life loss. These result
place every year. A look at seasonal distributions in extremely high cost to the government as
shows that all disasters appear to occur evenly compensation and relief payment to the affected
throughout the year with May being the most people.
affected by disasters. Further, Anuradhapura,
41
Chapter 03
3.3 Profiles of People Affected by Disasters
3.3.1 Profile of People Affected

Records show that in the past 34 years, 28 million importance of climate related disasters as other
people were affected by natural disasters. Figure 20- types of disasters hold a very negligible proportion
B (without Tsunami) shows the number of people with respect to the number of people affected. Sri
affected by disasters. As illustrated in the figure, 92% Lanka is an agricultural country mainly dependent on
of the people affected by disaster are either affected natural resources and lives of the majority of people
by floods (48%) or droughts (44%) without taking into are directly linked with the environment, the most
consideration the Tsunami. Extreme wind events are dynamic element of which is the climate. Therefore
also responsible for affecting 6.5% of the disaster any small variation of climate affects people. Figure
affected people. The share of climatologically 20-A shows the statistics taking the Tsunami into
disasters is 96%. This shows the dominating consideration and Figure 20-B, without Tsunami.
Figure 20-A : A. With Tsunami

3.72% 0.10%
Profile of People 0.42% 6.23%
Affected due to
Different
Disaster
Categories with
Animal attack
Tsunami :
1974 - 2008 Extreme Wind Event
46.60% 42.90% Drought

Fire
Floods
Landslides
Lightning
source
0.03%
www.desinventar.lk Tsunami
Figure 20-B : B. Without Tsunami

0.11%
Profile of People 0.44% 6.47%
Affected due to
Different
Disaster
Categories
without Tsunami
48.40% Animal attack
: 1974 - 2008
44.55% Extreme Wind Event
Drought
Fire
Floods
Landslides
source
0.03% Lighting
www.desinventar.lk
42
3.3.2 Annual Time Series Another dominant type of disaster is the extreme
Distribution of People Affected wind event, but it is not as frequent as floods and
droughts. A sudden increase in people affected by
The time series distribution with respect to people extreme wind effects can be seen in 1978, 1992 and
affected by disaster is fluctuating from 0 to 4 million 2000 only. During the period from 1974 to 2008, the
affected people as per the records. Figure 21 below number of affected people due to disaster shows
shows that droughts and floods are the major high fluctuation with an increasing trend in general
common causes affecting people in almost all years. even without taking the Tsunami into consideration.

People Affected 4500000
Due to Disasters 4000000

- Annual
3500000
Number of people affected
Time Series
Distribution 3000000
Tsunami 2500000
Lighting
2000000
Landslides
Floods 1500000
Fire
Drought 1000000
Extreme Wind 500000

Event
Animal attack 0
1982
1992
2002
1978
1988
1998
2008
1974
1976
1980
1984
1986
1990
1994
1996
2000
2004
2006
source
www.desinventar.lk Year

Due to Disasters
- Annual 3000000
Time Series
Distribution 2500000
Lighting 2000000
Landslides
Floods 1500000
Fire
Drought 1000000
Extreme Wind
500000
Event
Animal attack
0
1982
1992
2002
1978
1988
1998
2008
1974
1976
1980
1984
1986
1990
1994
1996
2000
2004
2006
source
www.desinventar.lk
Year
43
Chapter 03
3.3.3 Seasonal Distribution of People without taking the Tsunami into consideration). These
Affected peaks may have a direct correlation with the

monsoon. The two peaks due to floods have a clear
Figure 22-A shows the seasonal distribution of
correlation with the monsoon rain and the August
people affected by disasters taking Tsunami into
peak caused by drought show a relationship with the
consideration and Figure 22-B, without Tsunami. It
end of southwest monsoon period. The other months
shows a cyclical distribution with three peaks in May,
appear to take on a lower value.
August and November/ December/ January (even


– Seasonal
6000000
Distribution :
1974 to 2008 5000000
4000000
Tsunami
Lighting
3000000
Landslides
Floods 2000000
Fire
Drought 1000000
Extreme Wind
Event 0
May
June
November
March
September
January
February
April
July
August
October
December
Animal attack
source
www.desinventar.lk Month

People Affected
7000000
Due to Disasters
– Seasonal 6000000
Number of people af fected
Distribution :
5000000
1974 to 2008
4000000
Lighting
Landslides 3000000
Floods
2000000
Fire
Drought
1000000
Extreme Wind
Event
0
Animal attack
May
June
November
March
September
January
February
April
July
August
October
December
source
44
3.3.4 Spatial Distribution of People 1,510 to more than 462,121 (Upper limit) by DSDs.
Affected The highest number of persons affected by disaster
Map 10 illustrates the geographical distribution of is recorded in the Batticaloa district while the districts
people affected by disaster across the Districts and of Kegalle, Matale, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya appear
Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the country, to be the least affected. DS divisions in the Southern
respectively. It shows the uneven spatial distribution and North -Western parts of the island have a higher
of human impact of disaster from less than 114,364 number of people affected. However, the magnitude
to more than 3.6 million (upper limit) disaster of people af fected is not distributed evenly
affected persons by districts and from less than throughout the island.
Map 10 :
People
Affected
Due to
Disasters -
Spatial
Distribution:
1974 - 2008
source
www.desinventar.lk
Box 3 :
During the period of 1974-2008, the highest animal attacks is high, people are less affected by
Conclusions on
number of people affected was due to floods and it. It is also important to note that people in
People Affected
next highest number of people affected has been Batticaloa are most affected by disasters whereas
By Disasters
due to drought, even though it was apparent as those in Kandy, Matale, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya
very insignificant in the Profile of Different are least affected.
Disaster Categories. Although the incidence of
45
Chapter 03
3.4 Loss of Life due to Disasters
3.4.1 Profile of Life Loss

Figure 23 shows the distribution of loss of life with (25%). Seventy seven percent of total deaths due to
respect to each disaster type. As seen in Figure 23-A, disaster have resulted from the occurrence of these
90% deaths during the period from 1974 to 2008 is due three disaster types. The proportion of loss of life from
to the Tsunami, which occurred for a few hours. The other disasters is not very significant compared to the
Figure 23-B shows the situation without Tsunami and above mentioned three disasters. Floods (12%)
the deaths appear to occur evenly - Extreme wind lightning (8%) and fire (2%) are other important
events (27%), Landslides (25%), and Animal attacks disaster types with respect to loss of life

Profile of Loss
of Life due to
Different
Disaster
2.55%
Categories
2.69% Animal attack
Including 0.25%
90.08% 1.22% Extreme Wind Event
Tsunami : 2.37%
Drought
1974-2008 0.84%
Fire
Floods
Landslides
Lighting
source

8.45%
Profile of Loss
of Life due to 25.67%
Different
Disaster
23.91%
Categories
Without
Tsunami : Animal attack
1974-2008 Extreme Wind Event
Drought
Fire
12.29% 27.16% Floods
source 2.52% Landslides

www.desinventar.lk Lighting
46
3.4.2 Annual Time Series while in the remaining 27 years the annual death rate
Distribution was below 100. The exceptional break in the normal

annual distribution is seen in 1978 with a high death
With respect to an annual time series distribution, the
toll exceeding 900, mainly caused by extreme wind
occurrence of deaths due to disaster has been quite
events. There are also two secondary level peaks in
low in general. As can be seen from Figure 24-B
1989 and 2003. Figure 24-A shows statistics with
(without Tsunami), during the period 1974- 2008,
Tsunami
deaths over 200 were reported in only three years,

Loss of Life Due 35000
to Disasters -
Annual 30000
Time Series
Distribution 25000
Number of deaths
20000
Tsunami
Lighting
15000
Landslides
Floods
10000
Fire
Drought
5000
Extreme Wind
Event
0
Animal attack
1982
1992
2002
1978
1988
1998
2008
1974
1976
1980
1984
1986
1990
1994
1996
2000
2004
2006
source

Loss of Life Due 1000
to Disasters - 900
Annual
800
Time Series
Distribution 700
Number of deaths
600
Lighting
500
Landslides
400
Floods
Fire 300
Drought
200
Extreme Wind
100
Event
Animal attack 0
1982
1992
2002
1978
1988
1998
2008
1974
1976
1980
1984
1986
1990
1994
1996
2000
2004
2006
source
47
Chapter 03
3.4.3 Seasonal Distribution

The seasonal distributions of loss of life have been higher rate of loss of life than the average monthly
quite cyclical without the Tsunami as shown in Figure rate of loss of life. The lowest death rates were
25-B (without Tsunami). The month of November experienced during the periods December-March
appears to suffer the highest loss of life which is and July-October. The total picture completely
mostly attributable to the extreme wind events. Apart changes with the Tsunami, as shown in Figure 25-A,
from this, May and June have also experienced a showing December as the dominating month.

Loss of life Due 35000
to Disasters –
Seasonal 30000
Distribution :
1974 to 2008 25000
Number of deaths
Tsunami 20000
Lighting
15000
Landslides
Floods 10000
Fire
Drought 5000
Extreme Wind
0
Event
May
June
November
March
September
January
February
April
July
August
October
December
Animal attack
source

Loss of life Due 1200
to Disasters –
Seasonal 1000
Distribution :
Number of deaths
1974 - 2008 800
Lighting 600
Landslides
400
Floods
Fire
200
Drought
Extreme Wind
0
Event
May
June
November
March
September
January
February
April
July
August
October
December
Animal attack
source
48
3.4.4 Spatial Distribution

Map 11 illustrates the geographical distribution of districts to more than 4615 deaths in the Ampara
loss of life due to disasters across the Districts and District, which has the highest number of recorded
Divisional Secretarial Divisions in the country loss of life due to disasters. Very uneven distribution
respectively. It shows the uneven spatial distribution of loss of life is seen in the DS divisions ranging from
of loss of life by disasters between 1-72 deaths in more than 1 to and less than 139 recorded deaths.
Vavuniya, Mannar, Puttalam and Moneragala
Map 11 :
Loss of life
Due to Disasters
– Spatial
Distribution :
1974 - 2008
source
www.desinventar.lk
Box 4 : Most number of deaths caused by disasters in Sri phenomenon showing a close link with the weather
Conclusions on Lanka is due to the extreme wind events, patterns in Sri Lanka, especially with the monsoon.
Loss of Life Due landslides and animal attacks representing 77% of Further, most deaths due to natural disasters have
to Disasters total loss of life (Without Tsunami). Uneven taken place in the districts of Ampara, Batticoloa,
chronological, seasonal, and spatial distribution of Hambantota and Galle (including Tsunami).
recorded loss of life due to disasters is a common
49
Chapter 03
3.5 Houses Destroyed and Damaged by Disasters
3.5.1 Profile of Houses Destroyed these three disaster categories. Without Tsunami also
and Damaged a total of around 95% of damaged houses are due to

disastrous wind events and floods. Other important
Figure 26 shows the distribution of damages
disaster types causing damage to houses are
recorded to houses due to different categories of
landslides and animal attacks. However, disasters
disasters. It can be seen that most damage
such as fire, lightning and drought have not caused
occurring to houses are caused by the disastrous
damage to houses.
wind events, Tsunami and floods with a total of
around 95% of total number of damage to houses by

0.96%
% Profile of
Houses 18.88%
Destroyed
and Damaged
0.02%
Due to Disasters 36.18%
2.09%
with Tsunami : Animal attack
1974 -2008
Extreme Wind Event
Drought
Fire
Floods
Landslides
41.63% 0.24%
source Lighting
www.desinventar.lk
Tsunami
Figure 26-B : A. Without Tsunami

0.03%
% Profile of
2.58% 1.18%
Houses
Destroyed
and Damaged
Due to Disasters
without
Tsunami :
1974 -2008 44.60%
Animal attack
51.32% Extreme Wind Event
Drought
Fire
Floods
0.29%
source Landslides
50
3.5.2 Annual Time Series

Distribution
Over time building destruction appears to be quite ex treme wind events. Apart from these t wo
low with an exception in 1978 and 2000. During these exceptional peaks most of the damage to houses is
two periods, most destruction has been caused by generally caused by floods.

No of Houses
120000
Destroyed
and Damaged
Number of houses destroyed and damaged

with Tsunami -
Annual Time
Serie 80000
Distribution :
1974 - 2008
60000
Tsunami
Lighting
40000
Landslides
Floods
Fire
20000
Drought
Extreme Wind
Event 0
Animal attack
1982
1992
2002
1978
1988
1998
2008
1974
1976
1980
1984
1986
1990
1994
1996
2000
2004
2006
source

No of Houses 100000
Destroyed 90000
and Damaged
without Tsunami 70000

- Annual Time
60000
Series
50000
Lighting
Landslides 40000
Floods
30000
Fire
Drought 20000
Extreme Wind
10000
Event
Animal attack 0
1994
1996
1998
2002
2008
1974
1984
2000
2004
2006
1992
1986
1988
1980
1990
1978
1982
1976
source
51
Chapter 03

The seasonal distribution appears to take on a once again in May. In the first cycle, most damage
cyclical pattern, as illustrated in Figure 28. Most appears to be caused by extreme wind events
destruction and damage are caused during the whereas during May most damage is caused by
months of November, December and January and floods.

No of Houses
250000
Destroyed and
Damaged Due to
Disasters with 200000
Tsunami-
Seasonal
Distribution : 150000
1974 - 2008
Tsunami 100000
Lighting
Landslides
Floods 50000
Fire
Drought
0
Extreme Wind
May
June
November
March
September
January
February
April
July
August
October
December
Event
Animal attack
source

No of Houses
200000
Destroyed and
180000
Damaged Due to
Disasters 160000
without Tsunami 140000
- Seasonal
120000
Distribution :
1974 - 2008 100000
80000
Lighting
60000
Landslides
Floods 40000
Fire
Drought 20000
Extreme Wind 0
Event
April
March
June
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
May
July
Animal attack
source
52

Map 12 shows the spatial distribution with respect to located in the Northern districts and Eastern districts
damage to houses by disaster. It can be seen that the appear to have incurred very high damage to
district most affected is Polonnaruwa, whereas houses. However, some of the DS divisions in the
districts such as Vavuniya, Mannar, Matale and Northern districts appear to be the least affected
Kandy are the least affected. Further, DS divisions because of data availability.
Map 12 :
Number of
House
Destroyed and
Damaged Due
to Disasters -
Spatial
Distribution :
1974 to 2008
source
www.desinventar.lk District DS Divisions
Box 5 : About 95% destruction and damage to houses are damage is due to Tsunami. In the remaining years
Conclusions on caused by disastrous wind events, Tsunami and the main cause for damage to houses is floods.
Houses floods. Other important disaster types causing The seasonal distribution appears to take on a
Destroyed and damage to houses are landslides and animal cyclical pattern and most destruction and damage
Damaged by attacks. Except in 1978, 2000, and 2004, the have occurred during the period of November,
Disasters general annual rate of damage and destruction December, January and in May. The most affected
appear to be quite low and in the two peaks of district is Polonnaruwa, whereas, the districts such
1978 and 2000 most destruction has been caused as Mannar, Vavuniya, Matale and Kandy are the
by extreme wind events, whereas in 2004 high least affected.
53
Chapter 03
3.6 Losses to Agricultural Crops due to Disasters
3.6.1 Profile of Losses to disasters (with Tsunami and without Tsunami). It

Agricultural Crops appears to take on a similar pattern as damage to
houses. It can be seen that most damage to
Damage to agricultural crops is measured as
agricultural crops are caused mainly by drought
hectares of crops affected by the disaster events.
(52.2%), flood (38.9%) and extreme wind events
Figure 29 shows the distribution of records of
(4.2%).
damage to agricultural crops due to various

Profile of
Agricultural 1.29% 0.44%
Losses Due to 0.18% 4.17%
Disasters (in
Hectares) with
Tsunami :
1974 - 2008
38.86% Animal attack
Extreme Wind Event
Drought
52.21% Fire
Floods
Landslides
Lighting
source
2.85%

Profile of
Agricultural
0.45%
Losses Due to 0.18%
4.23%
Disasters (in
Hectares)
without
Tsunami :
39.37%
1974 - 2008
Animal attack
Extreme Wind Event
Drought
52.89% Fire
Floods
Landslides
source 2.89%
54
3.6.2 Annual Time Series

Distribution
The annual time series distribution with respect to 12,000 Hectares of losses, with three peaks in 1987,
damage to agricultural crops illustrated in the 2001 and 2004. Further, most of the damage
Figures 30-A and 30-B (with Tsunami and without appears to be caused by droughts in these periods.
Tsunami), show a highly fluctuating pattern of However, in 1978 and 1984 most of the crop losses
damage / losses, from almost zero to reaching were caused by floods.

Agricultural Loss 140000
Due to Disasters
(in Hectares) 120000
Hectares of agricultural loss
With Tsunami –
Annual Time 100000
Series
Distribution 80000
Tsunami 60000
Lighting
Landslides 40000
Floods
Fire
20000
Drought
Extreme Wind
Event 0
Animal attack
1982
1992
2002
1978
1988
1998
2008
1974
1976
1980
1984
1986
1990
1994
1996
2000
2004
2006
source
www.desinventar.lk
Year

Agricultura Loss 140000
Due to Disasters
(in Hectares) 120000
Without Tsunami
– Annual Time 100000

Series
Distribution 80000
60000
Lighting
Landslides
40000
Floods
Fire
Drought 20000
Extreme Wind
Event 0
1980
1982
1992
2002
1978
1988
1998
2008
1974
1976
1984
1986
1990
1994
1996
2000
2004
2006
Animal attack
source
55
Chapter 03

The seasonal distribution of damage to agricultural can be seen in August and September. Here,
crops due to disasters also appears to be cyclical. however, most of the agricultural loss is due to
One peak takes place in the months of November, drought. Since August and September are the
December, January, and February. During this harvesting months, a slight drought would cause a
period, most damage is caused by floods which can significant crop loss.
be attributed to the monsoon rains. The other peak

Due to Disasters
(in Hectares)With 140000
Tsunami -
120000
Seasonal
Distribution: 100000
1974 - 2010
80000
Tsunami
Lightning 60000
Lanslides
40000
Floods
Fire
20000
Drought
Extreme wind 0
events
May
June
November
March
September
January
February
April
July
August
October
December
Animal attack
source

Due toDisasters
140000
(in Hectares)
Without Tsunami 120000
- Seasonal 100000
Distribution:
80000
1974 - 2010
60000
Lightning
Lanslides 40000
Floods
Fire 20000
Drought
Extreme wind 0
events
May
June
November
March
September
January
February
April
July
August
October
December
Animal attack
source Month
www.desinventar.lk
56

The spatial distribution shows that the districts of significant in these districts as in other districts.
Kurunegala and Ampara appear to have the highest Further, the most affected DS divisions are located in
damage to crops (Map 13). In districts such as the Southern and Western parts of the island, while
Colombo, Kandy and Kalutara the loss is rather low. certain DS divisions in the Northern and Eastern
This is because the agricultural sector is not as parts of the island are less affected.
Map 13 :
Agricultural
Loss Due to
Disasters (in
Hectares) -
Spatial
Distribution:
1974 - 2008
source
www.desinventar.lk District DS Divisions
Box 6 : Mainly drought (52.2%), flood (38.9%) and drought and flood. During this period, most
Conclusions on Extreme wind events (4.2%) cause damage to damage is caused by floods which can be
Losses to agricultural crops. The annual time series attributed to the monsoon rains. The other peak
Agricultural distribution with respect to agricultural crop loss can be seen in August and September mainly due
Crops due to takes on a cyclical pattern with three peaks in to drought.
Disasters 1987, 2001 and 2004 and damage appears to be The spatial distribution shows that the districts of
mainly caused by drought and flood. Kurunegala and Ampara appear to have the
The seasonal distribution of loss to agricultural highest loss of crop. In districts such as Colombo,
crop shows a cyclical distribution with two peaks. Kandy and Kalutara the loss is somewhat low. This
One peak takes place in the months of November, is because the agricultural sector is not as
December, January and February due to both significant in these districts as in other districts.
57

Disaster Profile

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Sri Lanka National Report on

Disaster Risk, Poverty and Human Development Relationship

3 Disaster Event & Impact Profile

Districts and Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs). accurate data is available.

Lanka is not distributed evenly. In terms of annual compared to other events.

perspectives to portray the disaster situation of Sri nDifferent Disaster Categories.

3.2 Disaster Profiles

3.2.1 DesInventar Disaster Profile

3.2.2 Annual Time Series Distribution

Extreme Wind 200

1974 - 2008 1000

3.3 Profiles of People Affected by Disasters

3.3.1 Profile of People Affected

Figure 20-A : A. With Tsunami

46.60% 42.90% Drought

Figure 20-B : B. Without Tsunami

Figure 21-A : A. With Tsunami

Due to Disasters 4000000

Extreme Wind 500000

Figure 21-B : B. Without Tsunami

Affected peaks may have a direct correlation with the

Figure 22-A : A. With Tsunami

Due to Disasters 7000000

Figure 22-B : B. Without Tsunami

3.4 Loss of Life due to Disasters

3.4.1 Profile of Life Loss

Figure 23-A : A. With Tsunami

Figure 23-B : B. Without Tsunami

source 2.52% Landslides

Distribution was below 100. The exceptional break in the normal

Figure 24-A : A. With Tsunami

Figure 24-B : B. Without Tsunami

3.4.3 Seasonal Distribution

Figure 25-A : A. With Tsunami

Figure 25-B : B. Without Tsunami

1974 - 2008 800

3.4.4 Spatial Distribution

3.5 Houses Destroyed and Damaged by Disasters

and Damaged a total of around 95% of damaged houses are due to

Figure 26-A : A. With Tsunami

Figure 26-B : A. Without Tsunami

3.5.2 Annual Time Series

Figure 27-A : A. With Tsunami

Due to Disasters 100000

Figure 27-B : B. Without Tsunami

without Tsunami 70000

3.5.3 Seasonal Distribution

Figure 28-A : A. With Tsunami

Figure 28-B : B. Without Tsunami

3.5.4 Spatial Distribution

3.6 Losses to Agricultural Crops due to Disasters

3.6.1 Profile of Losses to disasters (with Tsunami and without Tsunami). It

Figure 29-A : A. With Tsunami

Figure 29-B : B. Without Tsunami

3.6.2 Annual Time Series

Figure 30-A : A. With Tsunami

Figure 30-B : B. Without Tsunami

– Annual Time 100000

3.6.3 Seasonal Distribution

Figure 31-A : A. With Tsunami

Figure 31-B : B. Without Tsunami

3.6.4 Spatial Distribution

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