Small Fishers Federation Lanka

Message of Small Fishers Federation Lanka____________________________________________

A crisis situation arose with the striking of the Tsunami waves on the 26^th December 2004. Never before in the known history of Sri Lanka, have people experienced such devastation and a massive loss of life at any given moment. The government as well as the Non Governmental Organizations was not properly equipped to handle the situation and cater for the emergency needs of the affected ones. Therefore, the government sought assistance from the international communities and other donor organizations. Small Fishers Federation of Lanka was able to rise to the occasion with the financial assistance and the direction of Terre des Hommes, Netherlands to support its main target group of the fisher folk in Hambanthota, Matara and Ampara Districts. The managements of the SFFL and TDH were able to identify the needs and plan out the strategies and the procedures of handling the crisis. The strategy included five phases as follows.

I. Provided survival needs.

II. Re-establishment of livelihood.

III. Housing, Community centers, Children wards.

IV. Water, Health and Trauma Counseling.

V. Micro credit programme.

17 affected villages of three AGA Divisions in the Matara District and 26 affected villages in three AGA Divisions of Hambanthota district and 06 villages in Potuvil in Ampara district were selected for assistance with over 10,000 target population. Under the assistance of Terre des Hommes, Netherlands, The Small Fishers Federation had established and continued its social and economic developmental work in these affected districts over many years and the Federation had a very active organizational network in these areas. Ampara - Potuvil was included in the Disaster Management Program later, because the district was one of the worst affected areas by this natural calamity and the mission of TdH and SFFL is to serve all humanity, regardless of ethnic, religious or any other differences.

Under the patronage of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapakse (during the Tsunami period H.E. was the Prime Minister) the disaster Management programme was launched very productively. All the concerned officers of the Department of Fisheries and District Administration in Hambanthota, Matara and Ampara, THRU and TAFREN have supported very efficiently for the Disaster Management Programme.

We offer are profound gratitude to all those who supported for the success of the programme.

Anuradha Wickramasinghe

Chairman

Small Fishers Federation