International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
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Disaster management
Tsunami operation photo essays
Faces of recovery in Sri Lanka: Ninthavur fisheries cooperative's story
Meerashayul Jamaldeen, President of the Ninthavur Fisheries Cooperative Society in Sri Lanka’s eastern district of Ampara, measures out fuel for fisherman Mohamed Thambi Amir at the Society’s beach shop. The cooperative society purchases fuel and engine oil in bulk at wholesale prices and sells it to members and other fishermen for a small profit. Even with the small profit margin kept by the beach shop, fishermen still pay less for fuel and oil than if they had to purchase it in town and transport it to the beach by three wheel taxi or tractor.

Meerashayul Jamaldeen, President of the Ninthavur Fisheries Cooperative Society in Sri Lanka’s eastern district of Ampara, measures out fuel for fisherman Mohamed Thambi Amir at the Society’s beach shop. The cooperative society purchases fuel and engine oil in bulk at wholesale prices and sells it to members and other fishermen for a small profit. Even with the small profit margin kept by the beach shop, fishermen still pay less for fuel and oil than if they had to purchase it in town and transport it to the beach by three wheel taxi or tractor.

Photo: International Federation (p16825)
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The Ninthavur cooperative society has over 75 members, most of whom were affected by the tsunami. Some lost jobs when the boats they worked on were damaged or destroyed, others lost nets and boats that they owned themselves. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and the International Federation helped to set up the beach shop as part of the Red Cross post-tsunami livelihoods programme. The Red Cross provided 30,000 rupees as a grant for the shop and associated livelihoods project. Five such fisheries cooperative societies have been established in Ampara district. The profits from the shop supplement a project that provides livelihoods assistance to members and vulnerable families in the Ninthavur Division.
The Ninthavur cooperative society has over 75 members, most of whom were affected by the tsunami. Some lost jobs when the boats they worked on were damaged or destroyed, others lost nets and boats that they owned themselves. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and the International Federation helped to set up the beach shop as part of the Red Cross post-tsunami livelihoods programme. The Red Cross provided 30,000 rupees as a grant for the shop and associated livelihoods project. Five such fisheries cooperative societies have been established in Ampara district. The profits from the shop supplement a project that provides livelihoods assistance to members and vulnerable families in the Ninthavur Division.

Photo: International Federation (p16917)
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Meerashayul Jamaldeen helps Mohamed Thambi Amir to fill the fuel tank of his boat in Ninthavur. Thambi Amir lost his boat and nets in the tsunami and now rents a boat and pays the owner for its use. He makes enough to pay the rent and look after his family, but hopes to save enough money to buy a new boat and nets to replace those he lost.
Meerashayul Jamaldeen helps Mohamed Thambi Amir to fill the fuel tank of his boat in Ninthavur. Thambi Amir lost his boat and nets in the tsunami and now rents a boat and pays the owner for its use. He makes enough to pay the rent and look after his family, but hopes to save enough money to buy a new boat and nets to replace those he lost.

Photo: International Federation (p16823)
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Sinnarasa Dhaninjina sews a blouse for a neighbour’s child at her home in Ninthavur. Dhaninjina lost her husband in 2006 and she supports the household with the money she makes as a seamstress. She lives with her three children, mother and grandmother in a house that was damaged by the tsunami. Dhaninjina , her mother and grandmother are all widows. The sewing machine she uses was provided by the Ninthavur Fisheries Cooperative Society, which her husband helped to form prior to the tsunami. Twenty families such as hers receive funding and assistance from the profits made by the cooperative society’s beach shops.
Sinnarasa Dhaninjina sews a blouse for a neighbour’s child at her home in Ninthavur. Dhaninjina lost her husband in 2006 and she supports the household with the money she makes as a seamstress. She lives with her three children, mother and grandmother in a house that was damaged by the tsunami. Dhaninjina , her mother and grandmother are all widows. The sewing machine she uses was provided by the Ninthavur Fisheries Cooperative Society, which her husband helped to form prior to the tsunami. Twenty families such as hers receive funding and assistance from the profits made by the cooperative society’s beach shops.

Photo: International Federation (p16826)
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More information
14 December 2007
International Federation-wide tsunami semi-annual report: Indonesia | Sri Lanka | Maldives | India | Thailand | Myanmar | Bangladesh | Eastern Africa
Revised tsunami plan of action 2005-2010 (PDF document, 2.4 Mb, 97 pages)
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