Restoring Fishing Livelihoods After Cyclone Ditwah in Elakantha Village, Trincomalee District

Cyclone Ditwah caused severe flooding across the Mutur Divisional Secretariat in the Trincomalee District, devastating inland fishing livelihoods in Elakantha Village, Paddalipuram. For 65 inland fishing families of the Elakantha Inland Fishing Society, fishing was the primary and often sole source of income and food security.

At the time of the cyclone, two active fish stocking cycles were underway, one nearing harvest and another recently stocked. Floodwaters washed away all fingerlings and severely damaged or destroyed essential fishing assets, including canoes, nets, and outriggers. Access roads and tank banks were also heavily silted, leaving families without income and facing immediate food insecurity.

In response, Vanni Hope implemented a comprehensive early recovery and livelihood restoration project to help affected families safely resume inland fishing and rebuild long-term economic stability. Working in partnership with the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) and the Elakantha Inland Fishing Society, this intervention focused on restoring both production capacity and resilience.

As part of this project, we:
Restocked the village tank with 80,000 mixed-species fish fingerlings under NAQDA technical guidance
Replaced damaged fishing assets by providing 5 canoes to the most affected families
Distributed 20 fishing nets to households that lost all equipment
Supported the recovery of organised inland fishing activities for 65 families

Prior to Cyclone Ditwah, families earned a stable monthly income through sustainable inland fishing practices. This project marks a critical step toward restoring livelihoods, strengthening food security, and reducing future disaster vulnerability within the community.

This intervention forms part of Vanni Hope’s early recovery response following Cyclone Ditwah, focused on long-term solutions that restore dignity, income, and resilience.

Project Partners
Implemented by Vanni Hope
Technical Partner: National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA)
Community Partner: Elakantha Inland Fishing Society

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