Sri Lanka is bouncing back speedily from the tsunami strike that devastated its coastal belt.
Within three weeks from the ravaging tidal attack, the island’s President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga launched an “action plan” to rebuild Sri Lanka’s tsunami-battered shorelines. She laid the foundation stone for a new housing scheme in the ravaged southeastern town of Hambantota to inaugurate Action Plan for Rebuilding the Nation.
Sri Lanka was the second country which was hardest hit by tsunami after Indonesia, with three-quarters of its coastline scoured, more than 40,000 lives lost and initially almost a million people have displaced.
The plan involves building more than 60 towns along the coastal belt, as well as the reconstruction of roads, railways, electricity lines, telecoms, ports and the education, health and social services sectors.
While launching the program , the president thanked all foreign governments specially Saudi Arabia, NGOs, political parties including the opposition UNP in making a joint united effort to restore normalcy not only Hambantota but the entire country.
The cost of the action plan, drawn up by three task forces set up by the president days after the disaster, approximately $3.5 billion. It envisaged building 12 large towns, 20 medium towns, and 30 small towns along the affected coastline. It also includes an immediate cash payout of 5,000 rupees (about $50) to families hit by the giant walls of water. Government will also offer cash benefits to small-scale fishermen and traders who are keen to restart their businesses.
Children have returned to their schools and school books, education, uniforms and shoes are provided free of charge to each children in the disaster zones. The disaster fully destroyed 74 and partially damaged 102 schools in the country, affecting more than 90,000 students, according to figures from the Center for National Operations (CNO).
The CNO is to relocate 73 of the affected schools, 100 will be rehabilitated and three amalgamated with schools nearby. The total cost is estimated at $100 million.
Outstanding electricity, telephone and water bills have been written off for those who lost their homes. Measures have been undertaken to resuscitate the tourism industry by offering tax concessions to hotels and guest houses affected by tsunami.
In a push for a quick recovery of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, hospitality chiefs expressed optimism for the future. Geoffrey Dobbs, British owner of three luxury boutique hotels in Galle — Taprobane Island, Dutch House and Sun House — said the south coast will be up and running in just weeks. “The mood in the south is upbeat, despite the problems,” he said.
“With road, rail and telecommunications restored, there is every hope that most of the hotels on the south coast will be ready to receive travelers from overseas in a matter of weeks.” Dobbs also attributed the country’s recovery effort to the amazing spirit and enthusiasm of the local people.
“I have been in the south since the first tsunami struck on the morning of Dec. 26, 2004 and can vouch for the fighting spirit and dedication of the local community and Sri Lanka’s government agencies to get the south back on track quickly.” Dobbs, who is also coordinator of Sri Lanka In Style - a group of owners of luxury properties and tourism related services — added that the international community has played a huge role.
“The massive infusion of financial aid and supplies from the international community is contributing significantly to the recovery and reconstruction effort,” he said.
“Even the animals in the Yala National Park (YNP) have returned to the protected area and tourists have started coming,” said the Director General of the Department of Wildlife Dayananda Kariyawasam. Yala, a popular attraction for nature lovers, is home to more than 50,000 animals which include 15,000 deer, 300 elephants, 50 leopards, birds, reptiles and other animals.
International philanthropists expressed their commitment and support for Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery, encouraging tourists to go back to those areas unaffected by the tsunami. Chairman of the Singapore-based Banyan Tree Group, Ho Kwon Ping, said this is one of the best ways to help the country and its people bounce back from the tragedy.
“There are many cultural attractions and World Heritage Sites further inland that are untouched by the recent disaster, and certainly compelling reasons to visit,” said Ho.