Post-Tsunami Recovery: Issues and Challenges in Sri Lanka

The tsunami disaster, which caused over 30,000 deaths (with several thousands still recorded as missing), displaced some 800,000 people and resulted in widespread damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, is the single largest natural disaster in Sri Lanka’s recorded history. The impact fell most heavily on the coastal regions of the Eastern, Southern and Northern Provinces, and disproportionately on the poorest socio-economic groups as in most natural disasters in the developing world. The aim of this proposed study is to develop a report setting out a set of policy recommendations to address the medium to long term issues arising from the tsunami for the consideration of the government and public. It aims to provide a local perspective on the issues, reflecting the views, perceptions and concerns of local participants and analysts, grounded on both international experiences and relevant literature and on an appreciation of the specific economic, political and institutional realities of Sri Lanka.