(Lanka-e-News -30.Nov.2025, 11.10 PM) As Sri Lanka continues to grapple with one of its most severe nationwide emergencies in recent years, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDRMC) has issued an urgent public appeal for volunteers to reinforce its overstretched response teams.
The Centre, headquartered at Vidya Mawatha in Colombo 7, announced on Tuesday that it is in critical need of individuals who can assist with incoming reports, coordinate information flows, and support the national emergency hotline — which has been inundated as floodwaters rise and landslide risks escalate across multiple districts.
Officials say volunteers will play a crucial role in “situational analysis, communication and multilingual coordination,” providing essential backbone support to several government and national agencies currently engaged in rescue and relief operations.
“Every additional pair of hands can significantly strengthen the speed and effectiveness of our emergency response,” an NDRMC spokesperson said, urging capable members of the public to step forward without delay.
According to the NDRMC, volunteers should be able to demonstrate strong communication abilities, the capacity to work effectively within a team, and — ideally — proficiency in more than one language to ensure smoother handling of calls from affected communities. An understanding of emergency response processes or prior experience in humanitarian work, though not mandatory, is considered highly valuable.
Those reporting for duty are expected to bring a laptop, a smartphone with active data, personal water and snacks, and their National ID. Volunteers will be required to remain onsite overnight, reflecting the around-the-clock nature of the crisis response effort. Training will be conducted upon arrival by the Centre’s designated focal officers.
Volunteers are asked to make their way to the NDRMC before 8 p.m. to receive immediate training from Ms. Hasanga (+94 72 770 2671). Those intending to join after 8 p.m. are encouraged to contact Mr. Namal (078 778 7367) to arrange their induction.
Officials reiterated that the need is immediate and substantial. With widespread power outages, disrupted transport links, and continuing rainfall worsening conditions on the ground, the Centre is racing to sustain continuous communication with district-level authorities and emergency teams.
“Your prompt volunteering can make a profound difference,” the NDRMC appeal reads. “At this critical hour, public support is vital to ensuring the safety and well-being of affected communities across the island.”
As Sri Lanka confronts yet another test of resilience, the collective mobilisation of volunteers may prove decisive in strengthening the national response and safeguarding lives still at risk.
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by (2025-11-30 18:01:27)
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