Lessons from natural disasters, a case study based on rehabilitation and re-establishment of Tsunami affected small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to identify some of key issues encountered by Tsunami affected I SMEs in the process of rehabilitation and re-establishment in Sri Lanka. Second objective is to assess how far these affected industries are received various benefits and supports from various bodies such as government, private sector, donors and NGOs to get back into business. Final objective is to recommend some policies and strategies to develop this Tsunami affected SMEs in self-sustaining manner within a certain time period. The main data base for this research is obtained from the Industrial Development Board conducted survey covering 4,389 Tsunami affected Micro and SMEs. In addition to this various state organizations and NGOs based information sources used. This paper identify main issues related to Tsunami affected SMEs ranging from basic infrastructure provision up to finance, marketing, machinery, technology, training, product identification/development and etc. Actually this shows no any significant difference from issues faced by normal SMEs and Tsunami affected SMEs in addition to a sudden disaster (tidal wave). Therefore these issues can be generalized as issues relevant to SMEs in Sri Lanka as a whole. However, under the flood and rain of local and foreign assistance, most are pledges and promises, still Tsunami affected SMEs got a little support and assistance to recover and no any records can be found where these colossal amount of foreign assistance received gone. Finally this paper recommends various types of business incubator centers and entrepreneurial enhancing skill programmes for the revamping of Tsunami affected SMEs in addition to normal disaster risk management plan.