Bulletin

Issue: March/April 2007

News

Re-building tsunami-affected communities

Pandula Gamage may seem like any other postgraduate research student at La Trobe - but his journey is particularly inspiring.

On Boxing Day 2004, his country, Sri Lanka, was hit by a tsunami, which caused more than 35,000 deaths, displaced about one million people and deprived around 200,000 people of their livelihood.

It was one of the world’s largest natural disasters and La Trobe University quickly established five scholarships for students from affected countries to help with longterm reconstruction.

Mr Gamage was awarded the scholarship for Sri Lanka and is working for his PhD in the School of Business, focusing on the micro and small business development in the tsunami affected districts of Sri Lanka.

‘I hope to use my thesis in a practical way at a policy level. The topic will help the economic development of my country, because small business is the engine for growth,’ says Mr Gamage.

‘By offering this scholarship, La Trobe University has not only shown sympathy to our country, which is home to many of its present and past students and some of its staff members, but has also participated in long-term restructuring efforts.’

At the time of the tsunami, Mr Gamage was a branch manager with the National Development Bank of Sri Lanka. Many of the people he dealt with died in the tsunami and a lot of businesses were ruined. It took four months for the bank to reopen its doors.

‘Thanks to governments, international donors, NGOs and the community, I think that Sri Lanka has now returned to some sense of normalcy, but there are still the psychological effects to deal with for those who lost loved ones. Some housing and other infrastructure has returned, but we are still dealing with personal issues, such as tsunamiaffected children.’

Mr Gamage says Australia is an excellent destination for his research. ‘Considering 96 per cent of all businesses in Australia are small businesses, it makes for a good research base. I would like to do a comparative study in the future.’

Mr Gamage arrived on the main Melbourne campus at Bundoora last August and speaks highly of the quality of teaching and level of encouragement he has received at La Trobe.

He also appreciates the cultural diversity among students and staff. ‘The atmosphere at La Trobe strives to make all students feel comfortable academically, socially and culturally. Australians are very friendly and easy going,’ he said.