Unseasonal seasons in the Land of Serendipity: Climate change impacts and adaptation in Sri Lanka

Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is an island blessed with rich biodiversity, ancient ruins and natural resources. The South Asian nation is endowed with many assets and, over the past decade, has made significant development progress, continuing to emerge from a debilitating 30-year civil war and the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Yet now the nation’s economic and social gains are being threatened by the onset of climate change. What are the impacts, who is most vulnerable and – most importantly – what action is underway to adapt and prepare? Tharuka Dissanaike, Policy and Design Specialist at UNDP Sri Lanka, explains.