1. About Praja Abhilasha
On December 26, 2004, a powerful tsunami devastated the coastal areas around the island
destroying fishing villages, flooding rice fields and plantations and sowing grief among
rural and urban communities. The disaster affected particularly fishing communities on
the coast, and also destroyed much of the tourist infrastructure of the country. Sri Lanka
is a very popular tourist destination particularly for north Europeans and hundreds of
tourists were killed by the tsunami. There was immediately a worldwide rally to help
tsunami victims and millions of dollars were contributed by individuals, businesses and
charities. While the Sri Lankan government was beginning to organize the relief efforts,
international relief organization descended on Sri Lanka to provide help. While intentions
to help were sincere, various negative dynamic surfaced resulting in various kinds of
local responses.
Foreign organizations and countries were engaged in a competition for visibility in the
relief efforts. Billboards advertised campsites and donations. Journalist and television
crews mobilized to broadcast particular interventions. Powerful foreign government and
international institutions began voicing their interest in working on post tsunami
reconstruction plans. From the world bank, The Asian Development Bank, the United
States Agency for international Development (USAID), Japan and the European Union
among other came offers to the Sri Lankan government to develop policies to reclassify
land on the coastline, restrict their access and use and to rebuild the tourist infrastructure
on a scale bigger then ever before. Meanwhile, some Christian agencies were seizing the
opportunity of the disaster to engage into aggressive evangelistic proselytism that raised
strong objections form local Buddhist, Muslims and Christian Churches alike.
The Network
In May 2005, a number of grassroots, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
community groups gathered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, at the invitation of the National
Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), and agreed to from a network among
organizations representing marginalized communities from coastal and farming areas
affected directly and indirectly by the tsunami. By early September 2005 the “Praja
Abhilasha” Network was formed. This is a countywide network composed of
25organizations. It is inclusive of all faiths and religious bodies present on the island
although there are no institutions churches among membership.
The Response
Members present at the September 2005 workshop together to identify the focus areas
and content of the program. The Network steering Committee then met to finalize the
proposal. “ We agreed that the tsunami has only exacerbated the underlying causes of
poverty in our country. We have decided to focus on the following key issue. Access to
Land as it is the core issue of poverty in our society. We agree to work on the right to
land as a human right of the people as it relates to the right to life and livelihoods of the
people, in a context of globalization, privatization and International Monetary Fund
(IMF) imposed economic reforms in our country”.

2. Praja Abhilasha functioning districts
D.D- Development Displacement
H&E- Human & Elephant Conflict
WAR- War displacement
N.D- Natural disaster
L.T- Land Tenure
T- Tsunami

3. Partner Organizations’ Membership
Organization /Network/ Trade Membership with Areas of Operation Related Issues
Union
1. National Fisheries 12 coastal administrative districts in
Solidarity Jaffna, Mannar, Trincomalee, War, Tsunami, Land
Movement(NAFSO)- Batticoloa,Ampara, Hambantota, Matara, Tenure,
Negombo Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Gampaha,
[NETWORK] Puttlam with 12,000 membership
2. Savisthri Women’s Galle, Matara administrative districts H/E conflict/Tsunami
Organization-Colombo with 1500 membership Development
[NETWORK]
3. Praja Association [CBO] Colombo district with 6000 membership Tsunami, Development
Displacement
4. Ruhunu Diriya Fisheries Hambantota district with 600 Tsunami, Development
Org.-Hambantota [CBO] membership in Tangalle, Unakuruwa, Displacement
Welipatanwila, Rekawa, Kirinda,
Nonagama
5. District Fisheries Ampara district with 800 membership in War, Tsunami, Land
Solidarity (DIFSO)-Ampara Addlachena, Panama, Pothuwil, tenure, Development
[CBO] Akkaraipattu, Sainthumaruthu, Displacement,
Kalmunai, Oluwil, Marathamunai,
Komari,
6. Southern Fisheries Galle district with 1200 membership in Tsunami, Development
Organization- Galle Rathgama, Dodanduwa, Boosa, Displacement,
[CBO] Devineegoda, Hikkaduwa, Balapitiya,
Wathuregama, Katupolkella,
7. United Federation of Colombo district with 300 membership Tsunami
Labour/ Commercial & in Ratmalana, Modara, Mutwall, Uyana, Development
Industrial Workers’ Moratuwa, displacement
Union Land Tenure
[TRADE UNION]
8. Sri Vimukthi Women’s Gampaha district with 1200 membership Tsunami, Land Tenure,
Org.-Gampaha [CBO] in Munnakkaraya, Pitipana, Duwa, Sea Development
Street, Kudapaduwa, Poruthota, displacement
Kammaltota, Grand Street, Mankuliya,
Kadolkele, Kamachchodai,
9. United Negombo Lagoon Gampaha district with 350 membership Tsunami, Land Tenure,
Fisher People’s Org.- in Pitipana south, Basiyawtta, Development
Gampaha [CBO] Kapungoda, Thalahena, Displacement
10. Puttlam District Fisheries Puttlam district with 850 membership in Development /Tsunami,
Solidarity-Puttlam [CBO] Barudalpola, Kalpitiya, Kappaladiya, War, Land tenure
Mohoththuwarama, Palliwasalpaduwa,
Thalawila, Palakudawa, Kandakuliya,
Baththalangunduwa, Palliyawatta,

4. Mudukatuwa, Nainamadama,
11. Southern Fisheries Matara district with 1900 membership in Tsunami, Development
Organization-Matara Nilwella, Dickwella, Kapugama, Displacement
[CBO] Devinuwara, Weligama, Gandara,
Kottegoda, Thalalla, Batheegama,
Walgama, Jayasayurupura, Kalapuhena,
Wattegama, Hanwella, Aluthgama,
Welegoda, Hummanaya,Kandegodalla,
Kemagoda,
12. Trincomalee War, Tsunami,
District Fisheries Solidarity Development
[CBO] displacement
13. Kalutara District Kalutara district with 500 membership in Tsunami, Land Tenure
Fisheries Solidarity Beruwela
[CBO] Kaluthara, ElabadaWatte
Sea lane, Sinhagama,
Peiris lane
Kaluthara North
14. People to People Dialogue In18 administrative districts of Sri Lanka War, Tsunami,
on Peace and Sustainable with more than 25 organizational Development
Development network. Displacement
[Network]
15. People’s Planning In 15 coastal districts operated during Tsunami, War
Commission tsunami and minimal presence at the
[Network] present situation. At the early stages of
tsunami it was a 200 organizations
worked together to advocate tsunami
survivors rights.
Praja Abhilasha Partners’ Profile
Organization Address Related Issues
1. National Fisheries No.10, Malwatta Road,
Solidarity Negombo. War, Tsunami, Land
Movement(NAFSO) Tenure,
2. Savisthri Women’s 997/43 Park Lane, Rajagiriya H/E conflict/Tsunami
Organization Development
3. Praja Association 66/9B, 66 Watta, Baseline Road, Tsunami, Development
Borella. Displacement
4. Ruhunu Diriya Fisheries 57/4, Parakrama Road, Tangalla. Tsunami, Development
Org. Displacement
5. District Fisheries 67 Mail Post, Main Street, Pottuvil. War, Tsunami, Land
Solidarity (DIFSO) tenure, Development
Displacement,
6. Southern Fisheries Devineegoda, Rathgama, Galle. Tsunami, Development
Organization- Galle Displacement,

5. 7. United Federation of 17, Barracks Lane, Colombo-02. Tsunami
Labour/ Commercial & Development displacement
Industrial Workers’ Land Tenure
Union
8. Sri Vimukthi Women’s St. Joseph Street, Negombo. Tsunami, Land Tenure,
Org. Development displacement
9. United Negombo Lagoon No. 139, Pitipana, Negombo. Tsunami, Land Tenure,
Fisher People’s Org. Development
Displacement
10. Puttlam District Fisheries Keeriyankalliya, Puttlam. Development /Tsunami,
Solidarity War, Land tenure
11. Southern Fisheries N0.90, Kanda Pahala, Dondra, Matara. Tsunami, Development
Organization-Matara Displacement
12. Trincomalee Sumedhagama, Trincomalee. War, Tsunami,
District Fisheries Solidarity Development displacement
13. Kalutara District Hena Road, Marakkala Watta, Tsunami, Land Tenure
Fisheries Solidarity Beruwella.
14. People to People Dialogue No.10, Malwatta Road, Negombo. War, Tsunami,
on Peace and Sustainable Development
Development Displacement
15. People’s Planning Park Lane, Rajagiriya, Colombo. Tsunami, War
Commission
Contact Details: Praja Abhilasha Network, No.10, Malwatta Road, Negombo, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 31 2239750
Fax: +94 314870658
Mob: +94 777362610
Email: fraajan@gmail.com
Web: prajaabhilashanetwork.blogspot.com