ComBank supports Sri Lanka’s DMC to strengthen country’s disaster readiness

Commercial Bank Chief Risk Officer Kapila Hettihamu makes a symbolic presentation of the bank’s support to Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda (Retd.) (ndc, IG), Director General of the Disaster Management Centre, in the presence of representatives of the two organisations

• Commits funds for complete revamp of Disaster Management Centre’s National RiskInfo Spatial Data Portal

Under its ‘Rebuild Together’ initiative, a national effort launched following Cyclone Ditwah to aid recovery and reduce future disaster risks, Commercial Bank of Ceylon has stepped forward to strengthen the country’s disaster preparedness and risk management capabilities by funding the complete revamp of the RiskInfo Spatial Data Portal managed by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).

Cyclone Ditwah highlighted the need for robust, modern and accessible risk information systems. The DMC, as Sri Lanka’s national focal point for disaster risk management, plays a central role in coordinating preparedness, response and recovery. It is supported by platforms such as the RiskInfo Spatial Data Portal and DesInventar database, which house multi-hazard risk maps, exposure and vulnerability data and historical disaster loss information. 

These platforms support evidence-based planning, early warning dissemination and emergency response, while also informing decisions that directly impact communities, such as urban redevelopment, safe relocation, infrastructure resilience and sustainable business development, ensuring that people, livelihoods and long-term growth are better protected from climate and disaster risks.

Recognising both the national importance of these systems and the gaps revealed by the recent cyclone, Commercial Bank reviewed the existing infrastructure and identified the urgent need to modernise the RiskInfo Spatial Data Portal. The bank’s support will enable enhancements to the system’s architecture, visualisation tools and data-sharing capabilities, helping to ensure that risk information is more accessible, interoperable and responsive to the evolving climate and disaster risks.

Commenting on the initiative, Commercial Bank Chief Risk Officer Kapila Hettihamu said, “Cyclone Ditwah was a stark reminder that Sri Lanka is facing increasingly complex and far-reaching climate and disaster risks. As a leading financial institution, we believe our responsibility extends beyond responding to crises, to helping the country prepare for them. We have collaborated with the DMC to operationalise this upgrade as a way to transition the nation from reactive recovery to proactive, data-driven disaster risk management. As a bank that believes in using technology to make lives better, we feel the revamping of the RiskInfo Spatial Data Portal represents an investment in knowledge, preparedness and early action. This platform has the potential to save lives, protect livelihoods and reduce long-term economic loss. This initiative reflects our commitment to sustainability, sound risk management and aligning the strength of the financial sector with Sri Lanka’s national resilience goals.”

This milestone engagement of Commercial Bank was formalised at an event held at the DMC, attended by Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda (Retd.) (ndc, IG), Director General – DMC, DMC Director Mitigation Research and Development Division Anoja Senevirathna, Commercial Bank Chief Risk Officer Kapila Hettihamu, members of the bank’s senior management and members of the bank’s Sustainability Department.

By supporting the revamp of the RiskInfo Spatial Data Portal, Commercial Bank said its contribution goes beyond immediate relief to focus on long-term resilience and future readiness. As climate risks increasingly translate into financial risks, access to robust disaster and climate data has also become vital for the banking and financial services sector, supporting better credit assessments, asset protection, climate-resilient lending and responsible investment decisions.