Hambantota district which is considered as the poorest district in the country is having the highest unemployment rate of 13.3 per cent. According to research findings it is revealed that more than 32 per cent of the population of Hambantota district live below the poverty line, writes W.T.J.S. KAVIRATNE, Ambalangoda special correspondent 221207 at http://www.dailynews.lk/.
Forwarded by Budhi Mulyawan 070108.

Hambantota district is one of the worst tsunami hit districts of the country and more than 3,000 people died, while more than 2,500 residences, schools, business centres and all forms of livelihood and the infrastructure were damaged within a few seconds during the fateful morning of tsunami day on December 26, 2004.

Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) which is the first District Chamber of Commerce found in the country and as a well established organisation in existence in Hambantota has been active in the relief, recovery and reconstruction activities since the day of tsunami.

Teams of HDCC staff had to undertake the onerous task of visiting temporary tsunami camps located in numerous places in the district in gathering firsthand data which facilitated in the formation of a database on loss and destruction caused in the district. HDCC could identify and assess the amount of damage caused to the ways of livelihood of the people in the district.

On May 26, 2005 HDCC published its “ Data Analysis of Affected Business in the Hambantota District”.

One of the first agencies that came to the rescue of tsunami affected small and medium enterprises in Hambantota District was the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

In order to facilitate the small and medium entrepreneurs of Hambantota District to restart their business ventures an innovative and sustainable programme called Back to Business was envisaged by the HDCC.

With the financial assistance provided by the Royal Norwegian Government compensation for the lost assets and the Insurance cover could be paid in case of future disasters. HDCC since tsunami has been acting as the distributing agency of funds for the upliftment of the tsunami affected business ventures and thus played a vital role in the process of rehabilitation of livelihoods of Hambantota district.

The owner of New Chandra Furniture Shop and the timber depot located along Baddawala Road, Hambantota Dharmasena Gunawardena narrated a harrowing story of how five members of his family including his wife two school going sons of the ages of 11 and 15 years and both mother-in law and father-in law were killed by the surging waves of tsunami. Tsunami took away even his sister who lived at Weligama making the family death toll to six persons.

He said he and his only daughter had a narrow escape while all the other members of the family perished. His daughter who was then awaiting the Advanced Level results escaped because she was not present at home when the tsunami hit their house. Now she was following a Higher Course on Accountancy in Sri Jayawardenapura University.

In addition to the tragedy caused to his whole family Dharmasena Gunawardena also lost all his machinery and tools which he bought through the earnings of hard work of many years worth around 70 lakhs of rupees . Overcoming agony and the deep frustration on the deaths of his family members , thinking about the future of his only surviving daughter he has determined to restart his life, he said.

One day just after tsunami devastation he said he casually happened to meet the Director General of HDCC, Azmi Thassim on the road and he patiently listened to his grievances and how he lost his whole family and the Furniture Shop and the Timber Depot the only means of livelihood.

On the direction of Azmi Thassim , HDCC as an initial financial support instantly provided a sum of Rs. 85,000 to Gunawardena to purchase some urgently required tools and machinery to restart his timber depot . Now Gunawardena through hard work and with the support of HDCC is back to business giving employment to seven persons.

L.W. Ariyaratne was employed in a Cement Factory in Saudi for a period of 13 long years and out of his savings he bought a land at Baddewela Road, Hambantota, spending a sum of over 18 lakhs he built a house with all the facilities. In addition to the house he built a workshop with numerous sophisticated tools and machinery bought from Saudi.

The construction of both the house and the workshop was completed and just after the ceremonial house warming on 18th August, 2004. Ariyaratne, his wife and his two children started to live in the newly built house. Workshop was ceremonially opened on December 2, 2004, but it was closed on tsunami day.

Ariyaratne described how he and his family escaped with some injuries but all his dreams of starting a modern workshop were shattered His newly built house, workshop and all the modern machinery worth over Rs, 40,000 were completely destroyed by the gushing tsunami waves. Ariyaratne and his family members were left with only the clothes what they were wearing.

He also revealed how he became traumatic, and after a considerable period of counselling and guidance by psychiatrists he could overcome the trauma .

Tsunami displaced Ariyaratne and his family lived in temporary tents and camps for well over one and half years till he found a house.

HDCC under its scheme of helping tsunami damaged livelihood programme came to his assistance and provided financial assistance to build a room and helped him buy a welding machine . Since then he could improve his workshop and at present six assistants are employed in his workshop.

The owner of Dumindu Salt Industries of Hambantota M. Chaminda was dealing in processing, packing and transporting salt to various parts of the country. On tsunami day his factory, machinery, and two lorries and the stores having salt worth Rs. 2.5 million were completely destroyed.

The total damage due to tsunami was around Rs. 4 million, he said.

HDCC came to his rescue and provided him an initial sum of Rs. 200,000 and out of this sum he could restart his salt industry he said. Before tsunami 30 persons found employment in his Salt factory now he could give employment for 45 persons he said.

“HDCC over the years has played a supportive role in uplifting the small and medium scale business ventures throughout Hambantota district for a considerable period before and after tsunami and this has been a continuous project,” said the Director General of HDCC, Azmi Thassim .

Recently Norwegian Ambassador, Tore Hattrem has launched a project to support Small and Medium sized Enterprises in the South.

He visited Hambantota in launching this innovative programme known as “Access to Credit and Business Development Project” with the assistance of the International Finance Cooperation (IFC).

Hattrem stressed the importance of developing the regions, facilitating employment and income generation. “I am delighted that we through this project are also able to enhance the business environment for SME in the South “ said the Ambassador referring to the new project.

He further said that this new project intended to promote and develop Small and Medium sized Enterprises in Ratnapura, Hambantota, Monaragala, Matara and Galle, through improved access to finance and business development services.

The project will be implemented by the IFC together with the five Southern District Chambers of Commerce and Industries. Norway had provided Rs. 290 million for the implementation of the proposed Access to Credit and Business Development Project.

At the launch of the project, Norwegian Ambassador, Hattrem pointed out the role of Norway’s history of cooperation with the South would go back to 30 long years.

Since 1979 Norway has provided more than Rs. 4000 million for the development projects in the South of Sri Lanka. This substantial cooperation popularly known as “NORAD” has contributed to public infrastructure as well as development in Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Forestry, Small-Scale Industries, and Production.

At present Norway’s cooperation with the South comprised of support for Vocational Training, Information Technology (IT) and further development of the Hambantota and Monaragala Chambers of Commerce.

Royal Norwegian Embassy has also provided funds to Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce to publish numerous post tsunami publications including its monthly official Newspaper.

The HDCC now has become a strong, vibrant organisation in the South three years after tsunami, through experience and the training to respond effectively and quickly to handle a similar disaster and responds to the needs of the people.

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