Reconstruction Post Cyclone Ditwah: Recovery and Resilience

CALL FOR PAPERS

Journal: International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment

Publisher: Emerald Publishing

Submission Opens: 9 February 2026

Submission Deadline: 30 June 2026

Introduction

In late November 2025, Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka — causing the worst flooding in over two decades. As of January 2026, the country is transitioning from emergency relief to a massive reconstruction phase. The World Bank estimates direct physical damage at $4.1 billion (approximately 4% of GDP), though total reconstruction needs are expected to exceed $6 billion.

Cyclone Ditwah highlighted that most of the existing infrastructure stock was designed for a "climate that no longer exists" — necessitating a fundamental shift from simple repair to climate-resilient reconstruction. Based on the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah, new strategic areas for improving infrastructure are urgently needed to reduce future vulnerabilities.

Resilience is not built in the aftermath of a disaster, but in the "quiet months" between them — by integrating climate and disaster risk, and their interdependencies, into every national budget and urban plan.

Scope & Significance

This Special Issue is dedicated to attracting research on reconstruction strategies following Cyclone Ditwah — providing a timely and critical platform for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to contribute evidence-based insights into recovery, resilience, and the transformation of Sri Lanka's built environment in the face of escalating climate risk.

List of Topic Areas

Manuscripts are invited on themes including, but not limited to:

Climate resilience and "Build Back Better" strategies post-Cyclone Ditwah
Integration of disaster risk reduction into post-cyclone reconstruction
Readiness for recovery — institutional, financial, and operational preparedness
Cyclone Ditwah as a driver for systemic change in infrastructure planning
Need for anticipatory action in disaster-prone built environments
Designing Early Warning System (EWS)-responsive buildings
Resilient built assets for emergency response
Infrastructure interdependencies and vulnerabilities for compound hazards
Sustainable and adaptive infrastructure design
Standards and policy integration for climate-resilient reconstruction
Integration of early warning infrastructure into reconstruction projects
Tools and technologies supporting disaster-resilient reconstruction — including Nature-Based Solutions
Economic and fiscal constraints for reconstruction
Displacement and relocation — community and planning dimensions
Socio-cultural and economic dynamics of post-disaster recovery
Reconstruction quality — standards, oversight, and accountability
Urban planning, building regulations, and the approval process
Post-disaster project management
Reconstruction project prioritization and sequencing
Funding management and financial mechanisms for reconstruction
Resilient contractor selection models
Hazard-resilient design principles and practices

Guest Editors

Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Dr. Chamindi Malalgoda 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Dr. Chathu Jayakody 📧 (contact via journal submission platform)

Key Deadlines

📅 Manuscript Submission Opens: 9 February 2026

⏰ Manuscript Submission Deadline: 30 June 2026

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are made through ScholarOne Manuscripts, the official submission platform of Emerald Publishing. Authors must strictly follow the journal's author guidelines.

When submitting, select "Reconstruction Post Cyclone Ditwah: Recovery and Resilience" from the special issue drop-down menu at the appropriate step in the submission process.

⚠️ Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication elsewhere while under review for this journal.

🌐 Submission Portal: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ijdrbe

🌐 Author Guidelines: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/ijdrbe#jlp_author_guidelines

About the Journal

The International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment (IJDRBE), published by Emerald Publishing, is a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing research on disaster resilience, risk reduction, and recovery within the built environment. It provides an international platform for scholars, engineers, planners, and policymakers exploring how cities, communities, and infrastructure systems can be designed, managed, and rebuilt to withstand and recover from natural and man-made disasters.

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