S.W.S.B. Dasanayaka
The main objective of this paper is to identify key issues encountered by Tsunami-affected Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) during recovery. The study first identifies damages and losses to MSMEs, then assesses benefits received from donors, and evaluates problems in benefit distribution. Data was sourced from literature, websites, and publications, complemented by primary data from a sample in Matara district, Southern Sri Lanka, and interviews with stakeholders. Findings indicate many MSMEs were overlooked, receiving inadequate support for effective recovery. Governance issues were prevalent, and overall recovery was only 59%. Despite Sri Lanka receiving significant donations, MSMEs received little assistance, with no records of donation allocations. The research methodology, findings, and policy recommendations can assist in analyzing similar cases in other countries and in designing coordinated benefit distribution mechanisms for large-scale natural disaster recovery.