Annual Report 2005 - Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

IPS Research ThemesPost Tsunami Reconstruction & DisasterManagementThe tsunami that hit Sri Lanka’s shores on 26 th December 2004 was Sri Lanka’s worst natural disaster inliving memory. Over 36,000 people died, over 100,000 houses were damaged or destroyed and overhalf a million people were displaced. Sri Lanka and the international community responded with a hugemobilization of funds, humanitarian relief and reconstruction activities. While these large reconstructionefforts provided the much needed support, it also created new economic challenges. Macroeconomic concernsincluded inflation, while many micro interventions in the housing and livelihoods sector did not sufficientlyfactor in the larger economic context. Disaster management alsobecame a high political priority with the creation of a new Ministry.The IPS worked with key agencies in the government, donor andNGO community to highlight the more strategic economicchallenges and opportunities to “build back better” after thedevastation.HighlightsFocus on Strategic Economic Challenges andOpportunities in the Post-Tsunami PolicyContextPublications in 2005Steele, Paul (ed.), “Phoenixfrom Ashes? Economic PolicyChallenges and Opportunitiesfor Post-Tsunami Sri Lanka”,IPS Working Paper No. 7IPS Research Team, “Listeningto Those Who Lost: Survey andAnalysis of Rebuilding andRelocation of TsunamiAffected Households in SriLanka”IPS research in this area highlighted the lack of a more strategic Jayasuriya, S., P. Steele and D.and medium term approach to many of the post tsunami economic Weerakoon, “Post TsunamiRecovery: Issues andchallenges and opportunities. In April 2005, IPS published aChallenges in Sri Lanka”,working paper titled, “Phoenix from Ashes? Economic PolicyAsian Development BankChallenges and Opportunities for Post-Tsunami Sri Lanka” . This Institute, Discussion Paper No.was one of the first overviews with clear recommendations, focusing 39 (in collaboration withon the economic issues of the tsunami relief and reconstruction Malathy Knight-John andefforts and plans for risk management strategies for the future. Nisha Arunatilake)This publication sold over 300 copies and has since become widelyquoted.Forthcoming PublicationsThe IPS in collaboration with the Asian Development BankSteele, Paul (ed.), “Livelihoodsin Post-Tsunami Sri Lanka:Institute (ADBI), Tokyo, Japan undertook a more detailed‘Building Back Better?’”macroeconomic analysis jointly with the Asian Economics Centreat the University of Melbourne. The aim of this joint study on“Post Tsunami Recovery: Issues and Challenges in Sri Lanka” was to develop a report setting out a set ofpolicy recommendations to address the medium to long term issues arising from the tsunami for the considerationof the government and the public. Key members of the IPS team were hosted at the ADBI during the period28 August - 12 September to finalize the report and made a presentation on “Issues and Challenges forRecovery in Post Tsunami Sri Lanka” on 8 September.The final report of the study titled “Post Tsunami Recovery: Issues and Challenges in Sri Lanka” was launchedat the workshop on “Post Tsunami Recovery: One Year On” organized by the IPS during 1-2 December inColombo. The report was presented to the Prime Minister, Hon. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, the then Minister11__________ Annual Report 2005