Sitting in the Indian Ocean, the teardrop shaped island of Sri Lanka was the site of a bloody civil war for almost 30 years, leaving many thousands dead, and many more people internally displaced.
Since the end of the war in May 2009, returning communities have had the difficult task of rebuilding their lives and homes.
Australian Red Cross first began working with Sri Lanka Red Cross after the 2004 Asia quake and tsunami devastated coastal villages. As part of the recovery, we were involved in housing reconstruction, providing water and sanitation, supporting livelihoods and rebuilding health infrastructure.
Rebuilding lives
With the end of the civil conflict, the Sri Lankan Red Cross Society with the support of International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent began an owner-driven housing and livelihoods scheme to rebuild communities and enhance the current low standard of living for people in the northern province.
Australian Red Cross has contributed more than AU$4.2 million in Vadamarachchi East, a tsunami and conflict affected area in the north, to help people rebuild their lives and homes. This funding will help build some 700 homes in the region, and provide livelihood, water and sanitation and psychosocial support.
Livelihood support is in the form of cash grants to generate income, such as start up capital for a small business or agricultural and fishing activities. Pyschosocial support will help people and communities to heal psychological wounds and rebuild social structures.