Sri Lanka is currently grappling with gigantic challenges of rebuilding the areas that faced the massive devastation caused by Ditwa cyclone. Most environmental experts feel a collective disaster management mechanism is essential for South Asia, which is one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions. After the recent devastation, the calls to strengthen collective preparedness has only intensified.

Esala Weerakoon, former secretary general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and a former foreign secretary of Sri Lanka, has observed that it is time to seriously consider a South Asian Climate Compact—a renewed, collective commitment to safeguard our environment, protect the people in the region, and uphold climate justice. Such a compact would reflect shared vulnerabilities, shared responsibilities, and shared aspirations, he said.

Weerakoon recently made this observation when he delivered the valedictory remarks at the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) in Colombo at the conclusion of the The Southasia Lectures (SAL) series on the theme “Climate Policy and Climate Justice” which featured experts presenting the status of climate mitigation and adaptation in their respective countries of the region. An overview of the overall South Asian situation was held on the last day, 8 December 2025, which fell on SAARC Charter Day – the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the SAARC Charter. The series was curated by Dr. Swarna Rajagopalan of Chaitanya, the RCSS, with Himal Southasian and Sansristi, as outreach partners.

Institutionalising Regional Cooperation

From cyclones in the Bay of Bengal to Himalayan earthquakes and recurring floods along the great river basins, the region’s shared vulnerabilities have underscored the need for deeper cooperation under SAARC since its establishment in 1985. Recognising these shared risks, the SAARC has sought to institutionalise regional cooperation in disaster preparedness, response, and resilience building.

At the 3rd SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in 1987 there was deep concern about the fast and continuing degradation of the environment, including extensive destruction of forests, and the resulting natural disasters. A group of experts with members from all the SAARC countries was constituted to prepare a study on the issue. The study recommended various measures for the protection and management of the environment and strengthening of the disaster management capabilities of the state and non-state actors.

SAARC prioritised disaster management after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, creating the SDMC and adopting a regional framework for risk reduction.

The 13th Summit of Heads of States or Governments held on 12-13 November 2005 in Dhaka adopted the Dhaka Declaration which underscored the urgency to set up a "permanent regional response mechanism on disaster preparedness, emergency relief and rehabilitation". The SAARC Disaster Management Center (SDMC), a promising framework for disaster management, was established to deal with early warning systems in the region. 

SDMC tries to serve member countries by providing policy advice and facilitating capacity building services including strategic learning, research, training, system development, expertise promotion and exchange of information for effective disaster risk reduction and management. It has encouraged regional agreements to demonstrate commitment, identify operational gaps and political tensions, that hinder full realisation of the region’s collective potential.

The SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters was signed in 2011 and it is a legally binding agreement aims to facilitate rapid deployment of relief teams, simplified customs and visa procedures, sharing of military and civilian assets and joint rescue and humanitarian operations. Though ratified, operationalisation remains slow due to political tensions and resource constraints.

SAARC also promoted people-centred, localised preparedness involving, volunteer mobilisation, local early warning systems, emergency drills in schools and communities and public awareness campaigns.

Post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation measures include assessment missions after major earthquakes and cyclones such as in Nepal 2015, Pakistan 2005 and floods and cyclones in Sri Lanka and India and promotion of “Build Back Better” and resilient infrastructure standards.
The major achievements of SAARC collaboration are the establishment of a functional disaster cooperation structure through SDMC, agreements, and frameworks, creating a baseline for regional collaboration, improved early warning, integration with regional and global warning systems has significantly reduced cyclone-related fatalities, especially in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka.

Pooling of technical expertise—earthquake preparedness in Nepal, flood management in Bangladesh, IT and satellite capabilities in India—has strengthened national systems.Thus, SAARC has become a platform for articulating collective South Asian concerns in global climate negotiations.

Need For Revitalising SDMC

Analysts argue that disaster management should remain insulated from political rifts and treated as a humanitarian imperative. A revitalised SAARC mechanism focused on data sharing, coordinated response and local resilience, could significantly reduce disaster impacts across the region. As one of the world’s most densely populated areas, South Asia may find that effective regional cooperation is not just beneficial but essential for saving lives.

However. the desire to collaborate regionally has faced many hurdles such as geopolitical tensions arising from the India–Pakistan rivalry and limited SAARC summit activity that has greatly weakened implementation of regional initiatives. The Rapid Response Mechanism remains largely on paper, with no standing regional force or pre-positioned assets. Smaller nations like Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka face financial/technical limitations in aligning with regional standards. Reluctance to share hydrological, climatic, and security-related data reduces the effectiveness of early warnings. Frequent restructuring of SDMC and bureaucratic delays affect long-term programming.

South Asian experts call for revitalising SAARC platforms by regular high-level meetings and depoliticisation of disaster cooperation so that the momentum could be restored. Another requirement is to operationalise the Rapid Response Agreement. It is also practical to create a small, flexible, multi-country SAARC Humanitarian Assistance Team that could greatly improve regional response.
Ambassador Weerakoon observed that “the future of South Asia depends on our ability to act together, to imagine boldly, and to uphold the principles of solidarity that define our region” and added that “SAARC must continue to strengthen its institutions and ensure that its activities yield tangible benefits for the people of South Asia.”

(The author, a former Sri Lankan diplomat, is a political and strategic affairs commentator. Views expressed are personal. He can be reached at sugeeswara@gmail.com)