AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY OF TSUNAMI AFFECTED FISHING COMMUNITY IN KALUTARA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA

Marine fisheries of Sri Lanka is concentrated along the coastal belt of the island which was adversely effected and devastated when hit by the Tsunami disaster of 26th December 2004. It affected the Fisheries infrastructures and community in 12 out of 14 coastal districts. This study examines the impact of tsunami disaster on the socioeconomic vulnerability of fishing community in Kalutara District and the impact of the tsunami relief and rehabilitation activities on the level of vulnerability of this community. A Survey was conducted at Three Fisheries Inspector (FI) Divisions in the Kalutara District and composite vulnerability index was computed by using Normalization method. The variables of income per month, expenditure per month, number of dependents, number of fishing days per month, land size, value of productive assets, savings per month, loans taken, education level and age of household head were taken into account for the computation of Composite Vulnerability Index. Results showed that composite socioeconomic vulnerability index is 0.23 and fishing community of Kalutara District is in mildly vulnerable level. The short-term rehabilitation and reconstruction strategies and programmers implemented to assist tsunami affected community to rebuilt their livelihood assets, re-establish their fishing activities and start fish marketing, processing and distribution showed some success in Kalutara District. However, institutional support facilities and services are not fully completed. For a smooth implementation, effective coordination will be required for channeling of official and private funds and improved co-ordination and communication among the various agencies are critical for rehabilitation and reconstruction on fishing community. This composite vulnerability computation, which can be applied to evaluate effectiveness and success of strategies and programmes, was implemented at different time and locations. Keywords: Composite Vulnerability Index, Fishing Community, Vulnerability, Tsunami For full paper: fmscresearch@sjp.ac.l