Sri Lanka
Contributions by the Canadian Red Cross
Map Courtesy of BBC News Online
Quick Country Facts
Capital: Colombo
Population: 18.7 million
Age Structure: 26.9% under 15, 6.2% over 65
Infant mortality rate: 17 per 1,000 live births
Adult literacy rate: 91.4%
Languages: Sinhala, Tamil
Impact of the tsunami on Sri Lanka
The tsunamis that devastated Sri Lanka followed an undersea 9.0 earthquake near Sumatra. The conflict-affected regions of the north and the east suffered the greatest damage. In the Mullaitivu and Ampara districts nearly 80 per cent of the coastal population was affected. Southern coastal areas, including the Galle district were also seriously damaged.
Hitting nearly two-thirds of the island's coastline, the disaster killed more than 31,000 people and injured 23,000; and another 4,700 are still missing. With more than 100,000 homes destroyed or damaged, over 500,000 people were displaced; about 96,000 of them are now housed in welfare centres (mostly temples and schools) or in tent transit camps; most of the rest are staying with relatives or friends.
Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) rescue teams were among the first to arrive after the disaster, assisting local authorities and communities as they evacuated the injured and recovered bodies. Red Cross branch volunteers gave first aid to hundreds of people who had sought refuge in welfare centres, and SLRCS ambulances brought many of the wounded to hospitals.
The tsunami, which demolished 10 of the 12 main fishery harbours in the country, also destroyed 80 percent of the fishing boats in the affected regions and the livelihoods of the people as well. Landmines, placed during the country’s civil unrest, were also disturbed by the waves, and will have to be located and removed in certain areas before people can be resettled.
