Repair of Tsunami-damages at Sri Lanka

Damaged harbour slope of breakwater Client: Ministry of Fisheries/Sri Lanka Construction Costs: 15 million US$ Service: planning, contracting, construction supervision Period: March 2005 mid 2007 Cooperation: NIRAS a/s (Denmark) Lanka Hydraulic Institute (Sri Lanka)

NIRAS a/s (Denmark), Lanka Hydraulic Institute (Sri Lanka) and Sellhorn Ingenieurgesellschaft are the design consultants for the planning and design of coastal stabilisation schemes at the southwest and west coast of Sri Lanka (separate project description). The group is also the Engineer for the civil works contract (FIDIC).
The group has been also entrusted with the design, tendering and construction supervision of 2 fishery harbours at the southwest and southeast coast (separate project description).

On 26.12.2004 the Indian Ocean Tsunami has devastated large coastal stretches particularly on the east and south coast of Sri Lanka. More than 31,000 people died and thousands are still missing. Almost 100,000 houses have been destroyed. In addition the infrastructure, in particular roads, railway tracks and bridges have been damaged.
The Sellhorn Team Leader inspected early January 2005 the coastal stretch from Hambantota in the south east to Colombo on the west coast and documented the damages of port and coastal structures.

In particular the operating facilities of the fishery harbours (like ice plants, workshops etc.) have been destroyed by the tsunami.

Breakwater sections have been damaged at the harbour side due to strong currents. Coastal structures (revetments) have been severely damaged if the crest level was higher than the immediate hinterland.

The damages have been documented in a comprehensive report also indicating needs, options and the urgency of rehabilitation measures. In total the costs have been estimated with approx. 15 million US$, 5 million US$ were required for immediate repair works to be implemented prior to the southwest monsoon 2005.

The Asia Development Bank has included all these measures in the Tsunami-Affected Areas Rebuilding Project (TAARP, ADL SRI 36601) (total finance volume 250 million US$).

The group of consultants designs the repair and rehabilitation works and negotiates contracts with local and international contractors (immediate repairs) resp. tenders the work. Several repair measures have been already completed by mid 2005. Sellhorn is responsible for the site supervision.