Immediate Response

In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order set up an operations centre, the Centre for National Operations (CNO), to handle the response, and the Secretary to the Ministry was appointed as the Commissioner General of Essential Services to oversee the coordination of government agencies involved in rescue and relief. Three task forces were set up to address specific aspects of the relief effort: the Task Force for Rescue and Relief (TAFRER); the Task Force for Logistics, Law and Order (TAFLOL); and the Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN).

While there were hiccups and confusion in organizing the relief, for a country that had not previously experienced such a disaster, Sri Lankan institutions responded reasonably well. Essential medical aid, emergency food, and other relief supplies were mobilized within a day. Temporary shelter for the displaced was provided in schools, other public and religious buildings, and tents. Communities and groups cooperated across barriers that had divided them for decades. Public and private sector organizations cooperated and organized relief efforts at many levels. Sri Lanka’s past investments in public health paid off in this emergency: the broad-based public health system and community awareness of basic sanitary and hygienic practices ensured that there were no disease outbreaks.

Once the immediate relief and rehabilitation measures for provision of food, shelter, clothing, clean water, and sanitary and medical facilities to affected families had been provided, it was necessary to address community needs to cope with the trauma and start rebuilding lives. The initial provision of cash grants to meet immediate needs included (i) compensation of SLRs.15,000 (US$150) for victims towards funeral expenses; (ii) payment of SLRs.375 (US$3.75) in cash and rations for each member of the family unit per week; and (iii) a payment of SLRs.2,500 (US$25) towards basic kitchen equipment. These initial measures were largely successful, though there were some problems with lack of coordination. ⁵ Overall, the emergency relief was quite successful in meeting the immediate needs of the affected people.⁶

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