by Kalana
(Negombo, Sri Lanka)
KALANA COORAY
- BSc Tourism Management (Special)
98/2, Karalgahahena Road, Pahala Bomiriya, Kaduwela, Sri Lanka
0094773503386 or 0094776850297 (H) – 0094112537536 (L) – kalana.cooray@yahoo.com
skype: kalana.cooray
Last designation: SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
Disaster Risk Reduction – Community Based Approach – Community Development
Large scale project designing, planning and implementation – HR Management & Development
Finance & Budgeting – Organization Design & Development – Tourism Management
Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist. Lead the team to implement one of the world largest community based DRR programmes. Macro Management of all deliverables to 10 Districts in Sri Lanka, 193 communities and 137 schools of the DRR programme. Supervision skills of HR in different levels, managed 173 staff, smooth scaling down strategies at the end of the programme.
Education - Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management
Technical Knowledge – Provided guidance and training to the field staff on the job. Attended various trainings and workshops on DRR, participatory risk assessments.
Qualified for Red Cross international assignments as a delegate – completed International Mobilization and Preparation for Action (IMPACT) training in Indonesia July 2010 which was organized by American Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies and International Committee of Red Cross.
Leader – Natural and proven skills as a leader by accompanying large team towards program goal and objectives within short time period.
Negotiator and listener – Engaged many negotiation within the professional frame work with internal stake holders such as senior management and top governance and external stakeholders, partners, government officials and the beneficiaries. Listened to the requirements, needs of the all parties.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Experience in Front office Operations in a five star hotel (03 months at Hotel Galadari, Colombo)
- Experience in Humanitarian Work (since 2005 – in Sri Lanka Red Cross Society)
SRI LANKA RED CROSS SOCIETY, Red Cross National Society of Sri Lanka, established in 1931, providing humanitarian assistance to the people based on 07 Red Cross Principles Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary service, Unity, Universality. The organization’s programmatic areas are Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Response, Health and Care and Promoting Fundamental Principles and Humanitarian Values.
Senior Project Manager – Disaster Management June 2008 to June 2010
Fulltime worked for American Red Cross funded Disaster Preparedness Programme. This programme has implemented by Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. The programme started in year 2007 and this positioned opened in year 2008 after the programme extension to additional 05 districts. This SPM position was the top position of the programme structure.
Ensured all recruitments of staff and their orientations and oversee 173 staff which includes 04 Project Managers, 01 National Finance and Administration officer, 10 District Project Coordinators, 22 District Assistant Project Coordinators, 10 District Finance and Administration officers and rest were field officers.
KALANA COORAY Page 02
SRI LANKA RED CROSS SOCIETY. – Senior Project Manager- Disaster Management – continued
Maintained thorough coordination with the donor agency American Red Cross and its delegates, technical staff and counterparts.
Ensured timely implementation of project activities over the 10 districts, 193 communities and 137 schools such as participatory assessments, formation of community based organizations, preparing participatory DRR plans, organizing community & school level response trainings on First Aid, Early warning dissemination, shelter management and search and evacuation, distributing community level and school level response kits, implementing small scale mitigation projects identified by the risk analysis, creating community level contingency funds using various fund raising activities and etc.
Supported the organization’s broader vision, mission and objectives through the quality implementation of the programme. Reviewed the programme targets timely with the consultation with donor, Sri Lanka Red Cross and its branches, the government stakeholders, beneficiaries and etc.
Developed the capacity of the SLRCS such as project management skills to staff and volunteers who are implementing activities in ground level, to establish linkages with the outside movement partners such as UNDP, Environmental Foundation Ltd, University of Colombo and etc in order to jointly implement several DRR activities.
Ensured project monitoring and evaluations of the programme.
Facilitated the branches to collect the successful stories which lead to release the booklet called “Before the Next Disaster Strikes”, with DVD of a documentary to share the success among the DRR stakeholders.
Project Manager – Disaster Management June 2007 to June 2008
The above position was one of the two key positions of the Disaster Preparedness Programme initially when it was started in 2007. These positions of Project Manager covered the Western and Southern Province SLRCS branches in order to implement the programme.
Managed the programme in Colombo and Gampaha Districts.
Ensured timely implementation of project activities over the 02 districts, such as participatory assessments, formation of community based organizations, preparing participatory DRR plans, organizing community & school level response trainings on First Aid, Early warning dissemination, shelter management and search and evacuation.
KALANA COORAY Page 3
SRI LANKA RED CROSS SOCIETY – Disaster Management Coordinator Colombo, 2005 to June 2007
The above position was opened in year 2005 to coordinate all Disaster Management and humanitarian operations in district wise. Colombo was one of the less tsunami affected district but right after the tsunami there were 11000 families displaced only in Colombo District.
Formulated DM plans/programs/activities with the assistance of Executive Director DM and implemented and ensured that objectives of the DM mandate are fulfilled.
Organized; arranged all district level DM workshops/seminars, discussions, exhibitions, national level programs/ activities including the funding arrangements with the support of relevant authorities.
Taken initiative and with the assistance of relevant authorities and officials, prepare district DM plan.
Coordinated and supervised all Tsunami Housing Construction projects (in 04 sites) in coordination with construction cell of SLRCS and other relevant authorities and submit progress reports on every fortnight basis. Discuss issues with relevant authorities for action.
Liaised with relevant public and nongovernmental DM agencies / authorities build up necessary rapport and program development.
Coordination and reporting on Tsunami Boat Project (livelihood).
EDUCATION
B Sc Tourism Management (Special), University of Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka (2005) b
Advanced Level, Commerce stream, 03 Very Good Passes (B), 01 Credit Pass (C), St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1999
AFFILIATIONS
Member of Planning committee, SLRCS Five Year Development Plan, 2009 – 2013
Member of the group, which developed Standardize Curriculum on CBDRR for field practitioners implemented by South Asian Regional Delegation of IFRC and Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre.
DM trainer on Community Based Disaster Management (certificate from British Red Cross and Sri Lanka Red Cross Society 2006)
KALANA COORAY Page 4
SKILLS
Excellent knowledge of English and Sinhala
Computer knowledge on MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point, MS Publisher, Internet and E mail.
Project reporting and audience based narrative report writing.
Training and facilitation.
Programme planning and realistic forecasting
HRM
Non Related Referees
Dr.Ananda Mallawatantri
Assistant Resident Representative
Team Leader - Environment, Energy and Disaster Management
United Nations Development Programme
202-204 Bauddhaloka Mawatha
Colombo 07
Sri Lanka
Tel: + 94 - 11 - 2580691 (ext 251)
Mobile: + 94 - 773 – 444146
E mail: Ananda.Mallawatantri@undp.org
Mr. Pankaj Mishra
Senior Officer,
Disaster Preparedness,
Disaster Services Department,
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
P.O.Box 372,
1211, Geneva 19,
Switzerland
Tel: 0041227304253
E mail: pamkaj.mishra@ifrc.org
Mr. Janath Hettiarachchi,
Field Assistant
ICRC - International Committee of the Red Cross
15, 4th Lane, Kurumankadu,
Vavuniya, Sri Lanka
T: +94 24 2222855, F:+94 24 2222537
E-Mail: vav_vavuniya@icrc.org
Mob 0777 800182
KALANA COORAY Page 5
Non Related Referees continued…
Col.S B Madugalle (Rtd)
Deputy Director General
Sri Lanka Red Cross Society
Colombo 10
Tel; +941125357000
Mobile: +94773261555
E mail: directorhrm@redcross.lk
Dr. Deepthi Wickramasinghe,
Senior Lecturer,
Department of Zoology,
Faculty of Science,
University of Colombo
Mobile: 0714488536
E mail: deepthi@zoology.cmb.ac.lk
I herby certify that the particulars furnished above are true to the best of my knowledge.
Kalana Cooray Date 10/09/2010