ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of post-2004 tsunami recovery in Sri Lanka. The case study is based on secondary data and researchers experience in the areas of tsunami recovery, disaster-risk reduction, community development and gender issues in Sri Lanka. It explores gender relations in the context of livelihoods in terms of ownership and access to livelihood assets and reviews how recovery policies, strategies and practices approached and addressed the gender relations and the resulting outcomes. The legal framework in Sri Lanka complicates the issue of land ownership by recognising joint ownership to private land but not in relation to alienation of state-owned land. Capacity of the relief and recovery programmes to invest in livelihoods and meet essential economic needs is discussed through four aspects: cash grants, individual savings, micro-finance and credit facilities through formal banks. Post-tsunami livelihood recovery support saw a dramatic increase in the scale and nature of micro-finance service provision.
