2004 Tsunami Impact on Sri Lanka: Coastlines Devastated

The **December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami** struck Sri Lanka's coastline with catastrophic force ~2–3 hours after the Sumatra quake.

Most Affected Coasts

1. Southern Coast (Worst Hit)

• Districts: **Galle, Matara, Hambantota**.
• Wave height: 6–12 m; run-up 400–1500 m inland.
• Towns devastated: **Peraliya** (train disaster – 1,700+ dead), Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Weligama, Tangalle.

2. Eastern Coast

• Districts: **Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee**.
• Waves wrapped around coast; fishing villages obliterated (Kalmunai, Oluvil, Thirukkovil).
• High death toll in LTTE-controlled areas – aid access delayed.

3. Western Coast (Lesser but Significant)

• Districts: **Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam**.
• Moratuwa, Beruwala, Negombo – flooding, infrastructure damage.
• Colombo Port operations halted.

Total Impact

• Dead: ~35,000 (official).
• Displaced: ~500,000.
• Housing destroyed: ~100,000 units.
• Railway: Coastal line (Colombo–Matara) severed for years.

Recovery reshaped coastal zone management (buffer zones, early warning, mangrove restoration).