December 2005

WIN Staff

It was in the early hours of Boxing Day, 2004 which decided the destiny of more than a quarter million lives in South-East Asia. The Matara District of Sri Lanka was one of the worst areas affected by the tsunami. Kamburugamuwa village had a total of 82 families who lost their belongings as well as their livelihood, which was the production of coir twining from the husks of coconuts.
Coir twining was made at Kamburugamuwa village until the tidal wave destroyed the machines used in its production. Thanks to the foreign students of Wakayama University, as well as WIN Concord, a contribution of Rs. 932,000 was collected. This money is being used by the MBA students of the Postgraduate Institute of Management of The University of Sri Jayewardenepura to revitalize the coir industry at Kamburugamuwa. Using these funds, a total of 63 new machines were manufactured, and an initial one-month supply of raw materials used in the production of the twine was provided. The number of machines manufactured is sufficient to permanently employ a total of 100 tsunami survivors.


Along with the creation of new machinery, training is being given to allow the production of coir mats made from the coir twine. Coir mats are currently in short supply in the world market and with the destruction of production facilities such as those in Kamburugamuwa, the revitalization of the industry is paramount in preventing potential buyers from permanently changing where they get their coir products from. An ability to make coir mats will provide the people with yet another source of income. Along with this training, psychological help is being provided for those people who are too frightened to enter the sea and dig the pits that are necessary for the production of the coir fiber. A fear that is certainly understandable given the circumstances.


The residents are also being provided with assistance in establishing a supply chain for the raw materials needed for the production of coir twining. Exclusive designs are being created for the end product to ensure that the completed mats will achieve success in the worldwide market.
At this time, a total of 30 machines have been manufactured and distributed to the residents of Kamburugamuwa village. Production of coir twine has already begun, and is expected to reach full operating status by the middle of 2006. This project is expected to continue and the necessary support will be given until the industry stabilizes and the residents become self-sufficient.

Posted on December 2005 in the following categories: Events