Sri Lanka Hosted the 4th RIMES Ministerial Conference in Colombo

Current Context: The 4th Ministerial Conference of the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) was held from May 6 to 9, 2025, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Key Details:

• Organized by: Government of Sri Lanka, with support from The World Bank and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
• Chaired by: Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.
• Theme: "Actionable Early Warnings and Climate Services for All".
• Aim: Strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems, enhance climate resilience, and support the UN’s ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative.

Highlights:

• Adoption of the RIMES Ministerial Declaration, reaffirming regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction.
• Expansion of climate resilience initiatives like CARE (Climate Adaptation and Resilience) and South Asia Hydromet Forum (SAHF) to Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
• India, as Chair of the RIMES Council, played a key role in finalizing institutional priorities and supporting the decentralization of RIMES operations.

Question:

Q.1 Where was the 4th Ministerial Conference of Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) held in 2025?
a) New Delhi, India
b) Dhaka, Bangladesh
c) Colombo, Sri Lanka
d) Kathmandu, Nepal

Answer: c) The 4th Ministerial Conference of the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from May 6 to 9, 2025.