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Sri Lankans determined to rebuild their lives and livelihoods
View(s):By Minaza Hassan
During this festive season, while celebrations are ongoing, many communities across Sri Lanka are also attempting to rebuild their lives and livelihoods while still grappling with the aftermath of the recent floods and landslides.
“Our community is in a red alert zone and had anticipated the usual level of impact after receiving warnings from the Disaster Management Centre. But the situation was different this year, with continuous rainfall lasting six to seven days and causing far greater damage than expected,’’ said Rawha Banu, a university student from Chilawathurai village in Mannar.
Abdul Hassan's textile business was affected
Ms Banu and her family and others have relocated to a safer area but face serious health and sanitation issues.
Business owners are also trying to recover. Deepa Stores (Pvt) Ltd, an essential foods wholesaler and retailer in Alawwa, had also suffered extensive damage after floodwaters of six to seven feet submerged the premises for two days, destroying all the stock.
Its owner, Mahendra Wickramarachchi, estimated Rs. 36.6 million in losses, with even packaged items such as Samaposha rendered unusable.
Critical equipment, including computer systems and weighing scales, was also submerged.
“We had to abandon any preparations for Christmas and New Year, as we have to focus on survival and revival,’’ Mr Wickramarachchi said.
The family is living in rented accommodation, using government compensation to cover basic living costs, and has chosen not to pursue compensation for the shop, saying that the Rs. 25,000 offered would make little difference to recovery efforts.
Similarly, Mohamed Abdul Hassan, a businessman from Thulhiriya, said his business suffered severe losses due to the floods as well, with textile materials worth Rs. 9.6m and books and tools valued at around Rs. 6.5m destroyed.
Recovering from the financial losses remains a major challenge, said Mr Hassan.
With both government assistance and support from communities and with the local mosque coordinating relief efforts, the flood damage has been slowly but steadily alleviated, said Mr Hassan.
Still recovering from the recent floods, Chairman of Soorya Rice Mill, M. Riyal, said the mill in Polonnaruwa was completely submerged, with water levels rising 10-12 feet. The damaged rice is now being sold as poultry feed. Machinery is damaged, too.
It will take up to three months to assess the financial loss, he said.
Deepa Stores was damaged by floodwaters
Many families in the area also lost their homes; some had even lost their loved ones, said Mr Riyal.
Having worked closely with flood- and landslide-affected survivors in partnership with other organisations in seven districts, the Women and Media Collective noted that many disaster-affected women are also struggling with the emotional impact of the floods, with some feeling depressed and isolated even after waters receded and cleanup began, said Dr Sepali Kottegoda, Programmes Director of the Women and Media Collective (WMC).
Most of the conversations were with women from districts such as Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Nuwara Eliya, and Colombo, mainly those with informal livelihoods like handcrafts or small-scale production, she explained.
However, compensation schemes often apply only to registered enterprises, leaving most of these women excluded from relief, said Dr Kottegoda.
Local councils do have counsellors, but the need far exceeds existing support, she said.
The WMC also noted that designated relief centres such as temples, schools, and community halls are not prepared to include persons with disabilities, lacking wheelchair access and support for those with sensory sensitivities, she said, adding that some families avoid relief centres altogether because wheelchairs cannot be transported or the facilities are not accessible.
The lack of inclusivity can deny equal protection and care during and after the disaster.
“Prior notifications and warnings allowed us to prepare well in advance, and we moved furniture to the top floor and evacuated before the floods,” said a resident from Kelaniya, Nadeeka Perera.
“However, our two-storey house was flooded up to the roof,’’ said Ms Perera. Walls have cracked, and the house and furniture have suffered significant damage.
She and her family are residing with her uncle while the home is cleaned. Applications for compensation are pending and presumed to be delayed due to flooding around the Grama Sevaka office.
Hotel operators in Kandy reported that the impact of the floods on tourism has been minimal, with only a slight drop in customers.
Roads, including the Kandy-Nuwara-Eliya route, were quickly cleared of debris, and most hotels had only minor damage, such as impacts to kitchens or spas, said the president of the Kandy Hoteliers’ Association, Rodney Armstrong.
Staff were mostly unaffected, with only a few houses damaged and no injuries or fatalities.
Recovery was swift, aided by volunteers from other provinces. Bookings have continued, including large groups from abroad, he said.
Weddings and other major events have largely gone ahead. But there were cancellations of smaller events, such as Christmas parties, mainly out of sympathy rather than necessity, Mr Armstrong said.
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