Critical Factors for Sustainable Post-tsunami Resettlement: Cases from India and Sri Lanka

Abstract

After the Indian Ocean Tsunami, affected people were forced to leave their original place either due to the government policy or physical issues such as eroded shoreline caused by the waves. However, organizations that had supported the affected areas did not evaluate their resettlement projects nor the lives of the people who were relocated. Resettlement issues have been discussed by many orga- nizations and researchers, however they were mainly case studies with non-specifi c conclusions. This study aims to: (1) identify the critical factors required to achieve sustainable settlement, and (2) identify problems arising from displacement. To obtain the relevant information, questionnaire survey was conducted in Tamil Nadu, India and Kalutara and Galle district in Sri Lanka.