Effectiveness of post-disaster management practices after occurring the Aranayake landslide: A case study in Aranayake Divisional Secretariat in Kegalle District of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Landslides are natural disasters that unfortunately unavoidable. Many countries around the world are facing a landslide disaster from time to time and they face difficulties with massive challenges after passing through such disaster. As a developing nation, it is also common in Sri Lanka. In line with that one of the massive landslide which occurred in 2016 at Samasarakanda. Now three years passed therefore it is time to verify are the remaining people adjusting their lives after the displacement with efficient post disaster management strategies. Accordingly, the main objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of post-disaster management practices in Aranayake. This study was conducted in “Senehe Siyapatha Gammanaya” in Wasanthagama. A convenient sampling method was used to select 30 affected people considering their level of exposing. Both primary and secondary data were collected for this study. Required Primary data collection was based on field observations, interviews, and a semi-structured questionnaire. Secondary data were collected from related institutions and literature. The study found that Dialog Axiata and Rhino Roofing Products Ltd were the major contributions to relocate their lives permanently in Wasanthagama. It also revealed that most of the victims lost their agricultural livelihoods such as Paddy, Rubber, Tea, Banana, Clove, Pepper, etc. As a result, now the trend to self-employment. Further revealed that passed three years the rehabilitation process is satisfactory in both government and nongovernment fields but there is no rehabilitate strategy in present-day lives. Public perception about post-disaster management mechanisms demonstrated that 47% of peoples are not satisfied with their current situation. Accordingly, findings of the study suggest that management strategies should be strengthened with the government, non-government and voluntary aids and support withal it will be a better solution when government or non-government institution introduces alternative income-earning activity such as a garment factory closely their households.