Achieving sustainable sanitation: lessons from tsunami reconstruction in Sri Lanka

The Asian tsunami, which struck Sri Lanka in December 2004, caused havoc in the country and brought about a massive humanitarian crisis. The loss of lives and assets was extensive. The country’s economy was stretched. The ensuing period saw an unprecedented flow of aid while the required rebuilding also provided an opportunity for Sri Lanka to improve the coastal infrastructure, correct past mistakes and build better. However, many housing projects, which have been handed over, lack safe water and sanitation. Sanitation that is not sustainable leads to many public health hazards. This paper is an effort to identify such failures and underlying causes in order that we learn from our mistakes. It is essential for Sri Lanka to ensure that its water and sanitation services are sustainable, thus leading to a healthy populace and in turn a healthy economy.