ABSTRACT
On 26 December 2004 the trail of devastation and tragedy left in the wake of the Indian Ocean Tsunami created shockwaves across the world. The Tsunami, which showed no discrimination in its impact, is considered to be one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. Sri Lanka, a popular European and North American winter tourist destination was among the countries directly affected by this disaster. The widespread impact of the tsunami left most of Sri Lanka’s coastal regions in tatters, with many lives and livelihoods lost. Consequently the country’s tourism industry, which remained resilient to the threat of terrorism for over two decades, was one of the industries worst hit by this disaster.
