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Huge US$ 3.5 billion recovery plan unveiled
The Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) has finalised the plan for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the fourteen tsunami-affected districts along the coastal belt. The total cost of implementing the plan has been estimated at a massive US$ 3,484.3 million.

As stated in the report some 40,000 lives were lost, one million people left homeless, 6,000 persons said to be missing and 15,000 injured while there has been a massive disruption of livelihoods.

Each of the identified areas in the implementation plan have been separated into three phases, with emergency repairs coming under phase one estimated to cost US $ 270.35 million, rehabilitation and reconstruction coming under phase two estimated to cost US $ 1688.25 million, while improvement and additions under phase three at an estimated cost of US$ 1525.7 million.

Roads
The amount needed to complete the three phases of road development has been estimated at US $ 808.35 million.

Phase one will cover emergency, short and medium term repairs, rehabilitation and improvement of roads and the construction of the southern highway from Colombo to Hambantota along the western and southern coast and the eastern and northern coast stretching from Pottuvil to Mullaitivu, including the roads in and around Jaffna.

The initial phase is estimated to cost US $ 15.35 million. The second phase which includes the rehabilitation of damaged roads and bridges is estimated to cost US $ 153 million while phase three which includes improvement to several roads in the southern, eastern and northern areas, is estimated to cost US $ 640 million.

Railways
The estimated cost for the rehabilitation and reconstruction to the railways sector is estimated to cost US $ 497.2 million of which US $ 1 million will be set aside for emergency repairs to restore the services at minimal levels and later improve them. Phase two is estimated to cost US $ 81.2 million which includes reconstruction and rehabilitation of 160 km of the railway track from Colombo to Matara, ten main railway bridges, three bridges between Kalutara and Aluthgama and 35 railway stations destroyed in the disaster.

Phase three includes additions and improvement which is estimated to cost US $ 415.0 million and will include a new corridor parallel to that of the Colombo-Matara expressway which will be an electric railway system (120 km of double track) connecting Ragama to Galle and Matara, a second track from Kalutara to Galle a distance of 72 kilometres, Matara to Kataragama (110 km) and the installation of a new signalling and communications system.

Bus transport
The estimated cost for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and replacement of capital assets of cluster bus companies has been estimated at US $ 3.0 million. This will include repairs to several damaged bus depots and workshops.

Electricity
The cost of the repairs and improvements in the electricity sector has been estimated at US $ 126 million. Emergency electricity repairs are estimated to cost US $ 30 million which includes the installation, along the coastal belt, of a new electrical distribution system network to replace the one that was damaged by the tsunami while ensuring a highly reliable and quality electrical supply system to 222,660 families who have been badly affected in the 13 districts.

The second phase of the electricity project will concentrate on the development of the power grid and infrastructure essential to meet the growing demand of the newly rehabilitated tsunami affected areas right around the coast belt estimated to cost US $ 48 million while phase three aimed at developing the infrastructure which would facilitate the anticipated increase in demand within a time frame of ten years is estimated to cost around US $ 48 million.

Water and sanitation
The estimated cost for water and sanitation is US $ 425 million with emergency repairs to the present water supply scheme. The construction of tube and dug wells including the supply of water to transit camps is estimated to cost US $ 26 million.

The second phase is estimated to cost US $ 169.30 million; this includes the restoration, rehabilitation and the installation of water supply facilities and the provision of a system of sanitation to the affected areas.

The third phase is estimated to cost US $ 229.70 million and includes a water supply scheme for Panama and Lahugala divisions, tube and dug wells in the northern and eastern provinces, pipe borne water and a sewerage scheme in the districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa, Hambantota, Galle and Matara.

Telecommunication services
The total cost of restoring the telecommunication sector is estimated at US $ 87 million. The emergency repairs will include restoration of telecommunication in the ten districts and the restoration of 25 telephone exchanges that have been completely destroyed. The second phase which is estimated to cost US $ 12.75 million would include the reconstruction of new towers for the provision of telecommunication services, the repairs and the relaying of cable networks in several of the affected districts. The third phase aimed at providing wireless telecommunication facilities for the fishing industry and rural communities and the government offices in affected areas is estimated to cost US $ 75 million.

Ports
The work on the ports is estimated to cost US $ 32 million.
The ports at Galle, Trincomalee, Kankesanturai and Point Pedro have been badly damaged in the December 26 tsunami. The emergency repairs to these and others will cost an estimated US $ 10 million while the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase is estimated to cost US $ 12 million. The third phase of the port improvement phase is estimated to cost US $ 10 million.

Education
Restoration work in the education sector is estimated to cost US $ 132.80 million. Fifty-nine schools were fully damaged, 102 schools and four universities were partly damaged and 13 vocational training centres were also devastated in the tsunamis. The cost estimated includes the reconstruction, renovation and relocation of these affected institutions.

Health
The cost of restoring and normalising the health sector is estimated to cost US $ 118 million. Emergency repairs include restoration of damaged health facilities in the affected areas.

The reconstruction and rehabilitation phase is estimated to cost US $ 48 million while the improvement and additions to this sector is estimated at US $ 70 million.

Under phase three there is provision for a comprehensive and high quality health service in the districts battered by the tidal waves and this includes the relocation of the Mahamodera teaching hospital, upgrading the Batticaloa General Hospital to a teaching hospital as well as the provision of modern faculties including the state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

Social services
It has been estimated that US $ 4 million will be needed for this sector. US $ two million is needed for providing counselling services to bring back a semblance of normality to the lives of affected people especially to the children who have been left orphaned and those who have lost their loved ones. The cost of rehabilitating women and children is estimated to cost another US $ two million.

According to statistics some 150,046 families made up of 665,951 individuals have been reported as displaced. The social services is expected to set up of 100 counselling centres in the 12 affected districts as well as the provision of training and skills development for counsellors.

Housing, township development
The work in this sector is estimated to cost US $ 520 million. Approximately 117,253 housing units have been fully or partially damaged. The houses of 90,000 families have been completely destroyed. The construction of temporary houses for the affected persons is estimated to cost US $ 20 million.

During the second phase estimated to cost US $ 500 million, 12 large towns, 20 medium towns and 30 small towns will be constructed.

Fisheries industry
The post tsunami work in this sector is estimated to cost US $ 330.49 million. A total of 31,456 houses, 22,940 boats and crafts, 11 harbours and 25 anchorages have been damaged. The emergency repairs in this sector is estimated to cost US 99.79 million which includes the rebuilding and renovating of the infrastructure facilities in the fisheries industry. Phase two is estimated to cost US $ 214.19 million which includes construction of housing schemes built to relocate fishing families in close proximity to the fisheries harbours and anchorages. Some 30,847 houses in 14 districts have to be restored or renovated.

These houses are to be located beyond 100 metres from the sea coast. The relocated houses are to be provided with water, sanitation and sewerage facilities and electricity. Phase three for this sector estimated to cost US $ 16.51 million will include more facilities for this area as well as for research and coast conservation.

Industrial sector
Work in this area is estimated to cost US $ 35 million. It has been estimated that 5,122 cottage industries located in the Galle, Matara, Hambantota. Colombo, Kalutara and Puttlam districts were affected by the tsunami. Phase one of this sector will require US $ 19 million while improvements and additions to this sector, would require another US $ 16 million.

Tourism
The restoration and rehabilitation to the tourism sector is estimated to cost US $ 328 million. Phase one needs US $ 5 million mainly to manage the negative perception caused by the negative media reporting, to restore confidence in the trade and media and bring back visitors as soon as possible and communicate that Sri Lanka tourism has much more on offer.

For the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase, 15 towns along the south and east coast have been identified and the work in this phase is estimated to cost US $ 128 million. Under this phase there will be also BOI concessions for totally destroyed hotels, refurbishment and upgrading of the affected properties as well as replacement of tourist vehicles.

The improvements and additions under phase three for the tourism sector is estimated to cost US $ 195 million and will include community development in these areas.

Environment
For repairs and improvements to this sector is estimated to cost US $ 74.95 million. The emergency repairs are estimated at US $ 15.75 million and include rapid environment damage assessment and strategic environmental assessment of the southern and northeastern provinces.

The second phase costing some US $ 12.6 million includes the establishment of a green belt along the coastal zone, restoration of coastal habitats, preparing guidelines and designing landfill sites for housing schemes to re-settle the affected people, the introduction of disaster preparedness and environmental education and awareness programmes. The third phase estimated to cost US $ 46.6 million includes restoration of national and marine parks affected by the tsunami and the prevention of marine pollution.

Law and order
The rehabilitation and reconstruction of courts, labour tribunals, police stations and prisons destroyed in the tsunami, is estimated to cost US $ 45.1 million.

Thirteen courts, several residential facilities of judges, seven prison buildings and 15 police stations have been affected by the tsunami. The reconstruction and rehabilitation of courts is estimated to cost US $ 24 million, prisons and prison quarters is estimated to cost US $ 7 million while the rebuilding of police stations is expected to cost US $ 14.1 million.

Tsunami allowance: Who will get it then?
The Government has imposed tough regulations on the provision of Rs. 5,000 for a family or Rs. 2,500 for individual victims of the tsunami disaster. Accordingly only those who were employed before December 26 and who thereafter directly lost their means of earning a living as a result of the tsunami will be entitled to receive the allowance.

Those not eligible for compensation are public servants, private sector employees who are receiving a salary or allowance, pensioners, those who did not have a mode of income before December 26, those who have managed to repair their fishing boats and nets after the tragedy (at their own expense or by receiving outside help) and if one of the family members is continuing to earn, after the tsunami tragedy.

Victims said the tough regulations and connected bureaucratic procedures might disqualify most of those who were affected.

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