ODTP aims to reduce the uncertainty and warning time for tsunami forecasting and preparedness of coastal communities, to develop the warning systems’ capability to issue actionable and timely tsunami warnings for tsunamis from all identified sources to 100% of coasts at risk, and to make 100% of communities at risk prepared and resilient to tsunamis by 2030. The appointment recognises Professor Amaratunga’s internationally renowned expertise in disaster risk reduction and resilience, and her extensive research on early warning systems. The ODTP-SC is the international expert body supporting global efforts of the ODTP to strengthen tsunami resilience and coastal safety.
The ODTP-SC was established by the IOC of UNESCO to provide scientific guidance and strategic oversight for the Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme. The committee plays a key role in facilitating the programme’s 2030 ambitions by connecting scientific advances with regional cooperation and national implementation. It is responsible for reviewing progress, strengthening coordination and identifying priority actions to advance tsunami preparedness and resilience.
As the Chair of the ODTP-SC, she is leading a global panel of experts from countries including the United States, Chile, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Japan, Russia, India and Israel, in a high-level, strategic global leadership role. It places Professor Amaratunga directly at the operational and international policy helm of the UN Ocean Decade's tsunami initiatives, driving global frameworks, multi-hazard integration, and worldwide scientific coordination. Serving as the Scientific Committee Lead for the Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP) places Professor Amaratunga at the centre of global marine hazard mitigation, offering unique strategic, academic, and societal advantages including:
- Global Impact and Policy Influence
- Direct Alignment with UN Frameworks
- Cross-Disciplinary Leadership
- Unprecedented Global Collaboration
- Securing Research Momentum and Funding.
Professor Amaratunga's commitment to improving tsunami resilience stems from witnessing the devastating impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami first-hand. Throughout her academic and professional career, she has focused on the five critical pillars of tsunami resilience: detection, exposure, early warning capacity, evacuation and emergency response, and recovery capacity.
She has been a long-standing researcher in tsunami research and has led many international research projects, events, and other outreach activities with external organisations, working with leading scientists, policymakers and practitioners around the world on tsunami science. Some of her previous roles include:
- Expert member of the IOC-UNESCO, Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) WG-1 on Tsunami Risk, Community Awareness & Preparedness (2017 – 2024);
- IOC-UNESCO IOTWMS Mission member, 2024 Tsunami Preparedness Capacity Assessment in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, recommending policy directives to the 28 Indian Ocean countries (2023-2024);
- Appointed Expert, Capacity Assessment Task Team of Tsunami Preparedness of the IOTWMS Member States, led by IOC-UNESCO (2023);
- Appointed international expert of IOC-UNESCO, ICG/IOTWMS inter-sessional Task Team on “Tsunami Preparedness for a Near-Field Tsunami Hazard” (2022);
- International observer for Sri Lanka for the UNESCO IOTWMS Indian Ocean Tsunami Exercises (IOWave20 and 18) (held in 2020 and 2018).
She has authored/co-authored a large number of publications on tsunami-related research and other activities. In 2015, she was a Partner and a lead contributor to the “Tsunami Risk Assessment and Mitigation for the Indian Ocean, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Manuals and Guides 52”. This manual was developed by the ICG/IOTWS of the IOC/UNESCO. Professor Amaratunga was member of the team that developed guidelines in 2020 for for all 24 Indian Ocean-based countries for Tsunami Warning Services, Evacuation and Sheltering during COVID-19. This document clarified the status of the regional tsunami services, as well as suggested best practices for local and national actions.
Commenting on her appointment, Professor Amaratunga said:
"I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as the Chair of the UN Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme Scientific Committee. Having witnessed the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami first-hand, I have dedicated my academic and professional career to helping protect coastal communities from tsunami risk."
"It is a privilege to contribute to this important international initiative and work alongside leading experts from around the world to strengthen tsunami resilience and build safer, more resilient coastal communities globally."
“It is my ambition to command high-impact international policy, direct global tsunami science strategy, and shape worldwide disaster risk reduction on a global stage; and I am confident that being the SC Lead of the ODTP is very influential in achieving that ambition”.
The Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP) is part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, known as the UN Ocean Decade. Running from 2021 to 2030, the initiative is led by the IOC of UNESCO and aims to reverse the decline in ocean health while generating the scientific knowledge needed to support a sustainable ocean and to identify, generate and use critical ocean knowledge to manage the ocean sustainably. For tsunamis, it provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve “transformational gains” in tsunami warning and mitigation systems by addressing gaps in tsunami warning and enhancing community preparedness.
The ODTP, spearheaded by UNESCO-IOC, serves as the marine and coastal execution arm supporting the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative. Its primary contributions directly target the core pillars of the EW4All framework: Advancing All-Sources Tsunami Monitoring; Bridging Science and Community Action; Targeting High-Risk and Resource-Constrained Regions; and Integration into Multi-Hazard Frameworks.