EMERGENCY began working in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the tsunami of December 26, 2004, when an enormous tidal wave killed nearly 300,000 people across Southeast Asia in just a few hours, destroying hundreds of villages along the coasts.

During an assessment in the days immediately following the catastrophe, EMERGENCY contacted local authorities to create a long-term program, once the huge short-term problems created by the tsunami had been dealt with.

While supplying the hospital in Kalutara with surgical instruments and medical consumables, EMERGENCY financed the rebuilding of Punochchimunai, a Muslim village whose economy depends on fishing, and distributed new boats and nets to enable the locals to work and support themselves.