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by Ranga Chandrarathne

A survey conducted by Japanese experts in the aftermath of the tsunami in South Asia reveals that less structural damage was caused to properties in the conserved shores, compared to beaches, which were directly exposed to waves.

The survey has found that Sri Lanka suffered serve damages in areas of physical infrastructure such as roads network, bridges and the three main ports, Galle, Point Pedro and Kankesanthurai and the estimated damage incurred is in the region of US $ 32 million. However the Port of Colombo, which handles 99 percent of cargo, was not that badly affected by the tsunami.

The 33-member team, "The Investigation from Japan on the disaster caused by the major earthquakes off the coast of Sumatra and the tsunami in the Indian Ocean ". Submitted their report and the objectives of the research were to understand more on the earthquakes and the tidal wave mechanism, damages to physical infrastructure, natural resources and restoration methods, in agriculture, fishing, telecommunication and the subsequent policies and proposals by the affected countries.

According to the survey, the master plan, to move the city of Galle which was severely affected, further inland was abandoned, considering the cost but decided to build a protection mechanism; a tsunami breakwater. According to the plan for other affected cities, the city of Hambantota will be moved to Gonnoruwa.

The government has made several recommendations including that ground floor of buildings should be kept vacant, the coastal roads are to be maintained as scenic roads with recreation facilities.

Housing and settlement locations have been identified for persons affected by the Tsunami and a model village to be constructed. The report extensively deals with the issues of industrial damage and the recovery measures adopted by the Government. For example Ampara and Hambantota were hard hit with extensive damages to lives, and homes and buildings.

The Coast Conservation Department has taken several short-term and long-term measures to restore the damaged shores. The Department will restore breakwaters and build shoreline rivetments. The debris from the coastline in the lagoon and canals have been cleared.

It has also been considered to replace damaged sand dunes artificially while the mangroves will be restored naturally. The damage to the existing road network is estimated at Rs. 6.3 billion and the survey found out that damage to roads was of three types; erosion of the road embankments, pavements, and collape of structures, completely or partially washed off. The damage in the Galle District is estimated at Rs. 25 million.

The survey further states that water supply facilities and resources have also been adversely affected by the tsunami incurring a damage amounting to Rs. 4,380,900,000 and damage to pipelines was estimated at Rs. 319,900,000 and a significant damage was caused to wells amounting to Rs. 892,000,000 with 62,000 wells damaged.

The total damage in the water and sanitary sectors in the Galle District is estimated at Rs. 250.9 (million), Rs. 332.4 (million) in the Matara District and Rs. 109.2 (million) in the Hambantota District. The worst district in terms of structural damage was the Ampara District with an estimated cost of Rs. 1,255 million.

In the Galle District 13,600 water supply connections have been damaged. The figures in other affected districts stand at 12,412 and 2,018 in Matara and Hambantota respectively. The survey also predicted that a total of US $ 200 million will be needed to restore the water supply.

One of the daunting tasks that the Government faced was to provide shelter to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) who either lost their dwellings or still live in partially damaged houses.

According to the report, there are 61 registered camps in the Galle District and the surveyors found that the quality of drinking water provided for most of the camps was not fit for human consumption.

The experts have also paid their attention to damages caused to the fisheries sector. The catastrophe was hard on 10,066 fishing communities amounting to 85 percent of total fishing population and 420,000 persons engaged in fishing. In addition a total of 40,000 houses in fishing villages and 22,000 vessels and 89,920 sets of fishing gear were also damaged.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has taken necessary measures to address this issue. Plans are afoot to provide the villagers with temporary shelter, fishing gear and funds for reconstruction of houses.

In the report it was highlighted that the country's healthcare system was well organised and had the capacity to deliver healthcare and emergency accommodation in the event of a catastrophe. The survey has also covered the areas of debris disposal.

(Source-Report of Investigation June 2005 -The Investigation Delegation of the Japanese Government on the Disaster caused by the Major Earthquakes off the Coast of Sumatra and Tsunami in the Indian Ocean).

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