Sri Lanka: heat country snapshot

Heat context

Known: Humid heat and increasing warm nights are documented. Building-code warm-dry zones are not a guarantee of low humidity. Inferred: Use location/season/workload-specific assessment and include recovery at home/night. Uncertain: Comparable current ward-level exposure, health burden and national city ranking. Urban thermal comfort trends in Sri Lanka · Recent Trends in Climate Extreme Indices over Sri Lanka · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026

Plans and legal basis

NDC3.0 2026–2035 Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) Legal status: Published national climate commitment; HHAP listed as a proposed health plan
NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) Legal status: 2023 health table assigns EOH leadership and records draft HHAP baseline; target completion is not proof of adoption
National Adaptation Plan 2026–2035 GGGI account of forthcoming NAP and financing preparation (opens in a new tab) Legal status: GGGI September 2026 account says before Cabinet. Later approval not verified; full text not reviewed
El Niño coordination committee/action-plan formulation Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees (opens in a new tab) Legal status: Cabinet briefing22June 2026 records approved proposal; page subject to next-meeting confirmation, actual delivery not verified
National AA Roadmap 2026–2030 Sri Lanka National Anticipatory Action Roadmap 2026–2030 launch (opens in a new tab) Legal status: Launch verified4June 2026; full roadmap and funded heat protocol not verified
Disaster Management Act 2005 Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005 (opens in a new tab) Legal status: Pre 2015 foundational legal background. DMC governance/planning/finance functions; current heat-specific authorisation and amendments require local legal check
Factories Ordinance Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) · Factories Ordinance - primary legal text mirrored by EFC (opens in a new tab) Legal status: Pre 2015 foundation contains reasonable-temperature provision; current inspectorate lists 2021 amendment. Not a complete consolidated heat-safety legal audit
Energy Efficiency Building Code Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · SLSEA introducing standards (opens in a new tab) Legal status: Final official linked edition first printed 2021 reviewed; scope-specific energy requirements, not universal heat-health safety certification
National Cooling Policy 2021 National Cooling Policy - ministry draft (opens in a new tab) · UNDP summary of National Cooling Action Plans (opens in a new tab) Legal status: Official draft reviewed; final adoption instrument not verified. NCAP publication support is a separate programme claim

Who is responsible

Meteorology: dom Disaster coordination: dmc Heat health plan lead: eoh Health emergency: dprd Climate planning: ccs Factory safety: labour Energy code and efficiency: slsea Refrigerants: nou Local delivery: City/district/divisional/public-health responsibilities to confirm case by case NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 · Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees · Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka · National Health Policy Review 2022 - climate-change focal point

Warnings

Metric: Heat Index from forecast temperature and relative humidity; not maximum air temperature, workplace WBGT or measured illness DMC weather report archive · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 Non smartphone delivery: Official documents include public/jobsite/home advice and archive has language versions. Tested radio/loudspeaker/door-to-door receipt and action reach not verified. Propose those channels only after local agreement.

Rules for heat at work

Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division · Factories Ordinance - primary legal text mirrored by EFC · ILO resilient plantations - safety, health and livelihood recovery Verified background: Section11 reasonable workroom temperature and ministerial power for regulations; inspectorate role. Legal audit limit: Current regulations, amendments, scope, sector rules and enforcement not fully checked; a blank is not a claim there is no duty. Inclusion: Factory provisions cannot be assumed to reach all street vendors, gig workers, farmers or domestic workers.

Cooling and buildings

Costs: Reason: No verified local comparable intervention lifecycle cost with published FX found; no global price substituted. Urban thermal comfort trends in Sri Lanka · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka · SLSEA introducing standards · National Cooling Policy - ministry draft · UNEP Ozone Secretariat - Sri Lanka country profile · UNDP Digital Cooling Project Approach: Proposed passive-first design assessment combined with appropriate active cooling and reliable operations. Climate suitability: Shade/envelope/ventilation design to match actual humidity, night air, security and air quality; code warm-dry designation is not a psychrometric equipment rule. No universal evaporative or fan-use prescription supplied. Cooling trap: Loop cooling: consider peak electricity, waste heat, refrigerants, affordable operation and power-cut fallback alongside access. Affordability: Income share, tariff-specific bills, landlord permission and maintenance burden not verified; propose measurement before procurement. Policy cautions: Standard existence, label programme, code scope, gazette enforceability, product availability and compliance are separate facts.

Money for protection

APN regional heat/gender research grant APN CBA2021-07SY-Magotra final report (opens in a new tab) Access: Historical regional award through IRADe/collaborators; current call/eligibility not verified
UNFPA extreme-heat guideline RFQ UNFPA extreme heat exposure guideline procurement background (opens in a new tab) · UNGM UNFPA-LKA-00013 tender (opens in a new tab) Access: Expired19October 2026; award and completed output not verified
UNDP digital cooling UNDP Digital Cooling Project (opens in a new tab) Access: NOU/SLSEA implementing route; current continuation/status uncertain, no open household grant
Multilateral Fund UNEP Ozone Secretariat - Sri Lanka country profile (opens in a new tab) Access: Ozone Unit and designated implementing agencies; restricted purposes
GCF readiness / NAP preparation GGGI account of forthcoming NAP and financing preparation (opens in a new tab) Access: Government/technical-delivery route; not automatic Common Shade grant
GCF/UNDP CRIWMP Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (opens in a new tab) · Dry Zone regional drought workshop field visit (opens in a new tab) Access: UNDP lists completedMarch 2026; no open call inferred
ILO/Japan plantation programme ILO resilient plantations - safety, health and livelihood recovery (opens in a new tab) Access: Programme partners; not a verified heat-only grant call
CVF–V20 Joint Multi-Donor Fund / ILO research ILO heat stress, jobs and productivity - six-country study event (opens in a new tab) Access: Sri Lanka country-study commission verified; no open applicant route
CANOPI national finance vehicle GGGI account of forthcoming NAP and financing preparation (opens in a new tab) Access: Not verified operational; exclude from available funding routes

Fairness and maladaptation risks

Assessment questions:

Can a worker rest without lost income or retaliation?
Are women, pregnant people, older people and people with disabilities able to reach and use services?
Who owns roofs/land and can cooling improvements raise rents or displace residents?
Will shade or tree cover block needed airflow, and who pays for water/upkeep?
Are fans/AC usable during outages, with safe wiring and affordable bills?
Do sensors collect only necessary data, with consent and a real protective action?

Interpretation: Researcher design questions, not claims these harms occurred in every selected city. Urban thermal comfort trends in Sri Lanka · UNFPA extreme heat exposure guideline procurement background · Heat stress in Colombo: understanding impacts and planning for the future · SLYCAN heat stress/gender-sensitive planning - Colombo fieldwork · Workplace health and safety under climate stress in Sri Lankan apparel SMEs · The Heat is On! Towards a Climate Resilient Education System in Sri Lanka

Ways to help (proposed)

Colombo worker-led shade, water/toilets, paid rest and home/night protection package Heat stress in Colombo: understanding impacts and planning for the future (opens in a new tab) · SLYCAN heat stress/gender-sensitive planning - Colombo fieldwork (opens in a new tab) · Meeting with Colombo Municipal Council on gender-sensitive heat plans (opens in a new tab)
Local warning-to-action drill aligned with health/DMC actors, disability access and non-phone channels Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · UNFPA extreme heat exposure guideline procurement background (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka National Anticipatory Action Roadmap 2026–2030 launch (opens in a new tab)
Costed ward/facility portfolios linked to national/provincial planning, with separate operating budgets and maintenance Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · GGGI account of forthcoming NAP and financing preparation (opens in a new tab)
Dry Zone urban–rural heat/water/worker learning without assuming a single CKDu cause Closing Heat Data Gaps in Climate Disease Frontline Communities (opens in a new tab) · Occupational heat exposure alone does not explain CKDu in Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (opens in a new tab) · Dry Zone regional drought workshop field visit (opens in a new tab)

Paying when heat strikes

The layers of money we found for heat in Sri Lanka, from the systems that reach people to risk shared with insurers: Budgets and reserves, Insurance, pools and bonds. Each is shown with how it is released, how it reaches people, and what we could not find.

See Sri Lanka, layer by layer

Cities

Colombo

Heat context: Humid lowland/coastal urban heat; night recovery matters. National station trends and modelled evening/night exposures are distinct.

Official heat plan: Status note: No signed/current city-specific HAP retrieved in this review; absence from collected evidence is not proof none exists.

Money for protection: Note: National/project routes do not establish municipal eligibility, expenditure or ward coverage.

A place to start (proposed): Co-design market/street-worker protection with reliable water/toilets, shade, rest without income loss, consent-based monitoring and night/home follow-up.

Known: Documented reason to investigate heat in this location/region.

Inferred: Local action is likely to work best when it combines physical protection, livelihoods, services and maintained delivery.

Uncertain: Ward exposure, current approved plan, operating facilities, budget, outreach and protection outcomes.

Selection basis: Original worker fieldwork, urban model/data and institutional heat-planning engagement.

Geographic caution: Selected documented heat-concern case; provincial/district forecast is not citywide measured exposure or a ranking.

Evidence: Urban thermal comfort trends in Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · Recent Trends in Climate Extreme Indices over Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Heat stress in Colombo: understanding impacts and planning for the future (opens in a new tab) · SLYCAN heat stress/gender-sensitive planning - Colombo fieldwork (opens in a new tab) · Meeting with Colombo Municipal Council on gender-sensitive heat plans (opens in a new tab) · Temporal and spatial heat exposure in Colombo - COSMA dataset (opens in a new tab)

National framework source ids: NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005 (opens in a new tab) · Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · SLSEA introducing standards (opens in a new tab)

Warning: Source: DMC weather report archive (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) Issuer actor id: dom Local reach verified: false

Responsibility to confirm:

Relevant urban local authority
District/divisional disaster coordination
Regional health authorities and local Medical Officer of Health/Public Health Inspectors
Worker/community representatives and relevant employers

Responsibility note: Proposed verification contacts, not a verified city-specific heat task force or accepted assignment.

Jaffna

Heat context: Northern Dry Zone rainfall designation does not imply continuously dry air; humidity-sensitive warnings and local measurement required.

Official heat plan: Status note: No signed/current city-specific HAP retrieved in this review; absence from collected evidence is not proof none exists.

Money for protection: Note: National/project routes do not establish municipal eligibility, expenditure or ward coverage.

A place to start (proposed): Link locally agreed exposure observations to school/market/health actions, accessible outreach and water continuity.

Known: Documented reason to investigate heat in this location/region.

Inferred: Local action is likely to work best when it combines physical protection, livelihoods, services and maintained delivery.

Uncertain: Ward exposure, current approved plan, operating facilities, budget, outreach and protection outcomes.

Selection basis: Named district in August 2026 heat advisory and city/site in reported monitoring deployment.

Geographic caution: Selected documented heat-concern case; provincial/district forecast is not citywide measured exposure or a ranking.

Evidence: Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · Closing Heat Data Gaps in Climate Disease Frontline Communities (opens in a new tab)

National framework source ids: NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005 (opens in a new tab) · Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · SLSEA introducing standards (opens in a new tab)

Warning: Source: DMC weather report archive (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) Issuer actor id: dom Local reach verified: false

Responsibility to confirm:

Relevant urban local authority
District/divisional disaster coordination
Regional health authorities and local Medical Officer of Health/Public Health Inspectors
Worker/community representatives and relevant employers

Responsibility note: Proposed verification contacts, not a verified city-specific heat task force or accepted assignment.

Anuradhapura

Heat context: North Central Dry Zone with heat–water–work interaction; humidity and recovery vary by season.

Official heat plan: Status note: No signed/current city-specific HAP retrieved in this review; absence from collected evidence is not proof none exists.

Money for protection: Note: National/project routes do not establish municipal eligibility, expenditure or ward coverage.

A place to start (proposed): Build an urban–rural learning link around safe water, field-work protection and warning action; keep rural sites and Padawiya separate from city measures.

Known: Documented reason to investigate heat in this location/region.

Inferred: Local action is likely to work best when it combines physical protection, livelihoods, services and maintained delivery.

Uncertain: Ward exposure, current approved plan, operating facilities, budget, outreach and protection outcomes.

Selection basis: North Central warning geography, documented rural water sites in district and wider occupational-health research context.

Geographic caution: Selected documented heat-concern case; provincial/district forecast is not citywide measured exposure or a ranking.

Evidence: Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · Dry Zone regional drought workshop field visit (opens in a new tab)

National framework source ids: NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005 (opens in a new tab) · Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · SLSEA introducing standards (opens in a new tab)

Warning: Source: DMC weather report archive (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) Issuer actor id: dom Local reach verified: false

Responsibility to confirm:

Relevant urban local authority
District/divisional disaster coordination
Regional health authorities and local Medical Officer of Health/Public Health Inspectors
Worker/community representatives and relevant employers

Responsibility note: Proposed verification contacts, not a verified city-specific heat task force or accepted assignment.

Vavuniya

Heat context: Northern inland Dry Zone; rainfall dryness would ideally avoid substituting for measured humidity/WBGT.

Official heat plan: Status note: No signed/current city-specific HAP retrieved in this review; absence from collected evidence is not proof none exists.

Money for protection: Note: National/project routes do not establish municipal eligibility, expenditure or ward coverage.

A place to start (proposed): Verify warning receipt and usable water, market shade and rest for outdoor/informal workers.

Known: Documented reason to investigate heat in this location/region.

Inferred: Local action is likely to work best when it combines physical protection, livelihoods, services and maintained delivery.

Uncertain: Ward exposure, current approved plan, operating facilities, budget, outreach and protection outcomes.

Selection basis: District explicitly named in August 2026 official warning; North coveredOctober 2026.

Geographic caution: Selected documented heat-concern case; provincial/district forecast is not citywide measured exposure or a ranking.

Evidence: Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab)

National framework source ids: NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005 (opens in a new tab) · Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · SLSEA introducing standards (opens in a new tab)

Warning: Source: DMC weather report archive (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) Issuer actor id: dom Local reach verified: false

Responsibility to confirm:

Relevant urban local authority
District/divisional disaster coordination
Regional health authorities and local Medical Officer of Health/Public Health Inspectors
Worker/community representatives and relevant employers

Responsibility note: Proposed verification contacts, not a verified city-specific heat task force or accepted assignment.

Trincomalee

Heat context: Eastern coastal location within code warm-dry district designation; sea/coastal humidity still requires local assessment.

Official heat plan: Status note: No signed/current city-specific HAP retrieved in this review; absence from collected evidence is not proof none exists.

Money for protection: Note: National/project routes do not establish municipal eligibility, expenditure or ward coverage.

A place to start (proposed): Investigate outdoor livelihoods, queues and clinics with humidity-aware measurement and inclusive local action.

Known: Documented reason to investigate heat in this location/region.

Inferred: Local action is likely to work best when it combines physical protection, livelihoods, services and maintained delivery.

Uncertain: Ward exposure, current approved plan, operating facilities, budget, outreach and protection outcomes.

Selection basis: Eastern-province advisory footprint and code climate context; not a city-level comparative exposure study.

Geographic caution: Selected documented heat-concern case; provincial/district forecast is not citywide measured exposure or a ranking.

Evidence: Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab)

National framework source ids: NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005 (opens in a new tab) · Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · SLSEA introducing standards (opens in a new tab)

Warning: Source: DMC weather report archive (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) Issuer actor id: dom Local reach verified: false

Responsibility to confirm:

Relevant urban local authority
District/divisional disaster coordination
Regional health authorities and local Medical Officer of Health/Public Health Inspectors
Worker/community representatives and relevant employers

Responsibility note: Proposed verification contacts, not a verified city-specific heat task force or accepted assignment.

Batticaloa

Heat context: Eastern coastal heat with humid conditions possible; seasonal variation and indoor/night conditions not characterised here.

Official heat plan: Status note: No signed/current city-specific HAP retrieved in this review; absence from collected evidence is not proof none exists.

Money for protection: Note: National/project routes do not establish municipal eligibility, expenditure or ward coverage.

A place to start (proposed): Assess school/WASH continuity and accessible neighbourhood shade with local health and education institutions.

Known: Documented reason to investigate heat in this location/region.

Inferred: Local action is likely to work best when it combines physical protection, livelihoods, services and maintained delivery.

Uncertain: Ward exposure, current approved plan, operating facilities, budget, outreach and protection outcomes.

Selection basis: Eastern warning footprint and national thermal-comfort research/context; education study not taken as citywide heat measurements.

Geographic caution: Selected documented heat-concern case; provincial/district forecast is not citywide measured exposure or a ranking.

Evidence: Urban thermal comfort trends in Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab)

National framework source ids: NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005 (opens in a new tab) · Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · SLSEA introducing standards (opens in a new tab)

Warning: Source: DMC weather report archive (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) Issuer actor id: dom Local reach verified: false

Responsibility to confirm:

Relevant urban local authority
District/divisional disaster coordination
Regional health authorities and local Medical Officer of Health/Public Health Inspectors
Worker/community representatives and relevant employers

Responsibility note: Proposed verification contacts, not a verified city-specific heat task force or accepted assignment.

Kurunegala

Heat context: North Western heat concern; code district classifications can span contexts, so check site humidity and building exposure.

Official heat plan: Status note: No signed/current city-specific HAP retrieved in this review; absence from collected evidence is not proof none exists.

Money for protection: Note: National/project routes do not establish municipal eligibility, expenditure or ward coverage.

A place to start (proposed): Explore paid work-rest arrangements and market/clinic readiness; map actual authority and operating finance before a pilot.

Known: Documented reason to investigate heat in this location/region.

Inferred: Local action is likely to work best when it combines physical protection, livelihoods, services and maintained delivery.

Uncertain: Ward exposure, current approved plan, operating facilities, budget, outreach and protection outcomes.

Selection basis: North Western provincial footprint in April/October official heat advisories.

Geographic caution: Selected documented heat-concern case; provincial/district forecast is not citywide measured exposure or a ranking.

Evidence: Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab)

National framework source ids: NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005 (opens in a new tab) · Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · SLSEA introducing standards (opens in a new tab)

Warning: Source: DMC weather report archive (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) Issuer actor id: dom Local reach verified: false

Responsibility to confirm:

Relevant urban local authority
District/divisional disaster coordination
Regional health authorities and local Medical Officer of Health/Public Health Inspectors
Worker/community representatives and relevant employers

Responsibility note: Proposed verification contacts, not a verified city-specific heat task force or accepted assignment.

Hambantota

Heat context: Southern dry-zone/coastal heat concern; humidity, wind and water constraints are worth measuring rather than assuming.

Official heat plan: Status note: No signed/current city-specific HAP retrieved in this review; absence from collected evidence is not proof none exists.

Money for protection: Note: National/project routes do not establish municipal eligibility, expenditure or ward coverage.

A place to start (proposed): Design water-secure shade/rest and clinic continuity with accessible routes and funded maintenance.

Known: Documented reason to investigate heat in this location/region.

Inferred: Local action is likely to work best when it combines physical protection, livelihoods, services and maintained delivery.

Uncertain: Ward exposure, current approved plan, operating facilities, budget, outreach and protection outcomes.

Selection basis: District specifically named in October 2026 advisory and warm-dry code context.

Geographic caution: Selected documented heat-concern case; provincial/district forecast is not citywide measured exposure or a ranking.

Evidence: Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab)

National framework source ids: NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · Cabinet decision on El Niño coordination committees (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2005 (opens in a new tab) · Department of Labour Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) · Energy Efficiency Building Code of Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) · SLSEA introducing standards (opens in a new tab)

Warning: Source: DMC weather report archive (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) Issuer actor id: dom Local reach verified: false

Responsibility to confirm:

Relevant urban local authority
District/divisional disaster coordination
Regional health authorities and local Medical Officer of Health/Public Health Inspectors
Worker/community representatives and relevant employers

Responsibility note: Proposed verification contacts, not a verified city-specific heat task force or accepted assignment.

Programmes

Department of Meteorology heat-index advisories Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka
Official guidance or data Next-day model-derived Heat Index published through DMC with jobsite, home and outdoor advice. DMC weather report archive (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 25 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 22 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · Warm Weather Advisory issued 19 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Historical advisories verified, not live alert status Limits: No universal workplace safe threshold, cash trigger, receipt or funded delivery inferred.
National HHAP policy pathway Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka
Official guidance or data HHAP development is assigned in 2023 plan and retained in NDC3.0 proposed health plans. NDC Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (opens in a new tab) · Sri Lanka NDC 3.0, 2026–2035 (opens in a new tab) · National Health Policy Review 2022 - climate-change focal point (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Draft/proposed in reviewed policy records; final approval not verified Limits: A scheduled target is not an adopted plan, funded service or statute.
APN-supported gender-sensitive heat planning Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Colombo; regional links to Surat and Rajshahi
Reported, not evaluated Colombo fieldwork, institutional discussions and regional training/framework outputs reported. SLYCAN heat stress/gender-sensitive planning - Colombo fieldwork (opens in a new tab) · Meeting with Colombo Municipal Council on gender-sensitive heat plans (opens in a new tab) · APN CBA2021-07SY-Magotra final report (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Historical 2022–2023 capacity-building work Limits: No signed current municipal HAP or causal protection result verified. Funding: Amount: 40000 Currency: USD Interpretation: Whole regional APN award, not Sri Lanka allocation or unit cost Award source: APN CBA2021-07SY-Magotra final report (opens in a new tab)
Colombo informal/outdoor worker heat research Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Colombo
Measured in a study Fifty qualitative interviews at six Colombo sites inform work/income/service concerns. Heat stress in Colombo: understanding impacts and planning for the future (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: June 2025 brief; interviews May 2024–March 2025 Limits: Purposive/non-gig sampling and qualitative coverage; no quantified causal effect.
COSMA Colombo exposure dataset Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Colombo
Measured in a study Modelled outdoor heat indicators and heat-flux GIS layers available. Temporal and spatial heat exposure in Colombo - COSMA dataset (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Published research data, not current monitoring service Limits: Historical event metadata omit month; no current heat map, bedroom exposure or person-level diagnosis.
Gender-responsive extreme heat guideline and communications procurement Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka
Reported, not evaluated UNFPA solicited a community-informed guideline and communication materials. UNFPA extreme heat exposure guideline procurement background (opens in a new tab) · UNGM UNFPA-LKA-00013 tender (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Expired procurement; award/output/adoption not verified Limits: UNGM deadline19October 2026 expired; not a grant or open tender. Guideline itself remains a planned output. Access: Route: Procurement through Quantum; basic registration listed Current opportunity status: closed Deadline as published: 2026-10-19 00:29 GMT-4 Award verified: false UNGM UNFPA-LKA-00013 tender (opens in a new tab)
Digital monitoring and management for cooling Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka cold-chain and space-cooling sectors
Reported, not evaluated UNDP/NOU/SLSEA programme with Denmark and Luxembourg support describes survey and planned pilot. UNDP Digital Cooling Project (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Funded demonstration programme; continuation/completion uncertain Limits: Narrative schedule endsMarch 2026 but page says ongoing; broader widget mixed in. No verified installed pilot effect or household affordability. Funding: Amount: 198000 Currency: USD Interpretation: Digital-project narrative budget; not unit cost or broader widget total Period: Listed March 2024–March 2026 Source: UNDP Digital Cooling Project (opens in a new tab)
Heat/kidney-health local monitoring collaboration Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Padawiya
- Matara
- Jaffna
Reported, not evaluated Duke/local collaborators report deployed stations in three communities. Closing Heat Data Gaps in Climate Disease Frontline Communities (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Deployment reported for 2024–2025; manuscript in preparation Limits: Does not establish heat as sole CKDu cause or show illness reduction.
Occupational heat and kidney-health comparison Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka
Measured in a study Study contrasts occupational exposure and renal markers across fisherfolk, paddy farmers and plantation workers. Occupational heat exposure alone does not explain CKDu in Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Original 2022 observational study Limits: Causal attribution remains uncertain. Does not prove heat harmless or one definitive non-heat cause.
Sri Lankan apparel SME climate/health study Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Biyagama
- Katunayake
Measured in a study 384 questionnaire responses from six Biyagama/Katunayake factories. Workplace health and safety under climate stress in Sri Lankan apparel SMEs (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Published January 2026; dataOctober 2023–March 2024 Limits: English-language/tenure/factory-consent restrictions limit generalisation; do not transpose to Colombo city or all workers.
Climate-resilient education evidence Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka; selected Eastern and Central Province school evidence
Measured in a study UNICEF-commissioned review, stakeholder survey and school/youth consultation. The Heat is On! Towards a Climate Resilient Education System in Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: 2021 study, not a current operational programme Limits: No current closure trigger, cooling retrofit effect or universal facility readiness inferred.
Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Malwathu Oya
- Mi Oya
- Yan Oya basins
Reported, not evaluated Government/UNDP/GCF project on irrigation, water security and drinking water. Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (opens in a new tab) · Dry Zone regional drought workshop field visit (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: UNDP page lists completed March 2026 Limits: Basin/rural coverage not citywide services; no cooling or CKDu prevention effect claimed. No current open funding route.
NAP2026–2035 / provincial preparation Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka
Reported, not evaluated GCF readiness-supported work with CCS/GGGI describes costed national/provincial adaptation planning. GGGI account of forthcoming NAP and financing preparation (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: September 2026 account says before Cabinet; later approval unverified Limits: Full plans and implementing/finance rules not reviewed; proposed CANOPI fund not treated as operational.
ILO plantation OSH and livelihood recovery Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka
Reported, not evaluated Japan-supported programme addresses plantation OSH and recovery, including extreme heat among risks. ILO resilient plantations - safety, health and livelihood recovery (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Listed November 2025–April 2027 Limits: Current heat-specific delivery, disaggregated outcomes, worker organisations and intervention costs require confirmation.
National Anticipatory Action Roadmap 2026–2030 Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka
Reported, not evaluated DMC-led roadmap launch with WFP support links forecasting/preparedness. Sri Lanka National Anticipatory Action Roadmap 2026–2030 launch (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Launch verified4June 2026 Limits: Heat-specific funded EAP, trigger, disbursement, benefits and eligibility not verified.
ILO six-country heat/jobs research and scheduled event Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka
Reported, not evaluated Sri Lanka included in studies funded through CVF–V20 Joint Multi-Donor Fund. ILO heat stress, jobs and productivity - six-country study event (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: Commissioned study; event scheduled29October 2026 Limits: Future event as of28October; no numeric results, local delivery outcomes or grant eligibility inferred.
National cooling policy/NCAP development Costs: Note: No verified intervention unit/lifecycle costs with dated FX; a blank is not zero.
Countries:
- LK
Locations:
- Sri Lanka
Official guidance or data Policy/NCAP work addresses comfort cooling and refrigeration. National Cooling Policy - ministry draft (opens in a new tab) · UNDP summary of National Cooling Action Plans (opens in a new tab) · UNEP Ozone Secretariat - Sri Lanka country profile (opens in a new tab) Operational phase: 2021 ministry policy draft; publication support reported 2023 Limits: Published NCAP and separate policy adoption not interchangeable. No final adoption instrument verified.

Who is working on it

Listing does not imply partnership, endorsement or ranking.

Department of Meteorology - Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre (opens in a new tab) Issues next-day heat-index advisories; collaborated in recorded heat planning discussions.
Disaster Management Centre (opens in a new tab) Publishes warnings; statutory disaster-management institution; AA Roadmap and heat-guideline consultation links.
Ministry of Health - Environmental and Occupational Health Directorate (opens in a new tab) Lead for HHAP in 2023 NDC implementation plan and climate-change focal point in health review.
Ministry of Health - Disaster Preparedness and Response Division (opens in a new tab) Named in heat advisories and NDC disaster-health coordination.
Ministry of Environment - Climate Change Secretariat (opens in a new tab) Publishes NDCs; lead in GCF-supported national/provincial adaptation preparation.
Department of Labour - Industrial Safety Division (opens in a new tab) Enforces Factories Ordinance with factory inspections and related functions.
Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (opens in a new tab) Publishes energy building code and appliance standards information; digital-cooling partner.
Ministry of Environment - National Ozone Unit (opens in a new tab) Cooling policy and refrigerant-transition programme role.
Colombo Municipal Council (opens in a new tab) Documented participant in APN/SLYCAN/IRADe heat planning and community-site selection.
National Water Supply and Drainage Board (opens in a new tab) Included in the Cabinet El Niño officials coordination structure.
Department of Irrigation (opens in a new tab) Included in Cabinet El Niño committee and AA Roadmap launch.
Department of Agriculture (opens in a new tab) Included in Cabinet El Niño committee structure.
Ministry of Education / National Institute of Education (opens in a new tab) Participated in UNICEF climate/education evidence collection.
Centre for a Smart Future (opens in a new tab) Published original qualitative research with Colombo informal/outdoor workers.
SLYCAN Trust (opens in a new tab) Colombo heat/gender fieldwork and regional capacity-building project.
Integrated Research and Action for Development (opens in a new tab) Led APN regional heat/gender project and engaged CMC.
Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (opens in a new tab) Funded regional heat/gender capacity-building project including Colombo.
University of Moratuwa (opens in a new tab) Named collaborator/creator in Colombo heat-exposure dataset.
Glasgow Caledonian University - built-environment researchers (opens in a new tab) Author affiliation for national thermal-comfort study; COSMA dataset collaboration.
University of Reading - COSMA collaborators (opens in a new tab) Named creators of modelled Colombo exposure/heat-flux data.
Duke University - heat and kidney-health collaborators (opens in a new tab) Research/project accounts on Sri Lanka heat exposure and kidney health.
University of Ruhuna - local research collaborators (opens in a new tab) Local collaboration named in Sri Lanka heat monitoring project.
Rajarata University of Sri Lanka - local research collaborator (opens in a new tab) University affiliation of team leader in heat monitoring project.
Manchester Metropolitan University - apparel study researchers (opens in a new tab) Lead/author affiliations in Sri Lankan apparel worker study.
Co-Energi (Pvt) Ltd (opens in a new tab) Credited with original compilation underlying SLSEA energy building code.
Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (opens in a new tab) Convened heat-stress/air-quality session with IFRC and technical bodies.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (opens in a new tab) Partner in SLRCS heat/air-quality convening.
National Building Research Organisation (opens in a new tab) Presented in recorded heat/air-quality convening; participated in AA roadmap launch.
Central Environmental Authority (opens in a new tab) Presented at heat/air-quality technical convening.
UNFPA Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) Procured proposed gender-responsive heat guideline/communications work with MoH/DMC consultation.
UNICEF Sri Lanka / Regional Office for South Asia (opens in a new tab) Commissioned Sri Lanka climate-resilient education study.
UNDP Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) Cooling and water-resilience implementation and finance partnerships.
Green Climate Fund (opens in a new tab) Financed water-resilience project and NAP readiness according to primary implementing partners.
Global Green Growth Institute (opens in a new tab) Technical delivery partner in GCF-supported NAP/provincial planning and finance preparation.
Multilateral Fund for implementation of the Montreal Protocol (opens in a new tab) Sri Lanka country profile verifies compliance/energy-efficiency assistance mechanisms.
International Labour Organization - Sri Lanka/heat research (opens in a new tab) Japan-supported plantation OSH/recovery programme and commissioned Sri Lanka heat/jobs study.
Government of Japan - ILO/Japan SSN programme support (opens in a new tab) Named funder of ILO plantation OSH/recovery project.
CVF–V20 Joint Multi-Donor Fund (opens in a new tab) Named funding route for ILO six-country heat/jobs studies including Sri Lanka.
World Food Programme Sri Lanka (opens in a new tab) Supported launch of national AA roadmap, per Defence Ministry account.

Overall

Known: Official forecast advisories, policy commitments, primary research and real funded research/technical programmes exist.

Inferred: Common Shade can connect these to locally agreed operational packages and maintained public capability.

Uncertain: Final plan approvals, current legal schedules, present city budgets, open eligibility, unit costs and independent heat-protection outcomes.