Forced to Move

In Sri Lanka people have been forced to move from their homes and familiar surroundings due to a number of reasons. Development projects such as the Mahaweli Project and more recently the Colombo-Matara highway have necessitated the physical and economic displacement of large numbers of people. The decades long ethnic conflict caused daily movement of people as they fled battle areas. Disasters, both recurring events such as floods and landslides as well as catastrophic events such as the tsunami, have led to people moving to safer areas. Accommodating the diverse needs and lifestyles of the affected people is a highly complex undertaking. Invariably, the resettlement process is emotionally charged and rife with dissatisfaction.