Was Tsunami Aid Well Targeted? An Examination of Disaster Assistance in Sri Lanka

The Tsunami in 2004 devastated Sri Lanka. In its aftermath, followed aid and support from multiple sources. As countries in South Asia ready themselves for climate change and the possibility of increased frequency in natural disasters, it is useful to understand how well post disaster operations work to help victims. It is vital that a country’s post-disaster development aid is well targeted and that it achieves its intended objectives. To shed light on this important issue, SANDEE research examines key elements of the development aid effort that followed the Asian Tsunami of 2004. This study is the work of Asha Gunawardena and Kanchana Wickramasinghe from the Institute of Policy Studies in Sri Lanka.