Our History

Sewalanka prides itself on being a learning organization. We continue to evolve as we incorporate 'lessons learned' and adapt to changing circumstances.

Sewalanka was founded in 1993 with a mission to work with the most vulnerable communities in the most neglected and disadvantaged regions of Sri Lanka. At the time, conflict was raging in the north and east of the country, and the communities caught in the middle of this war were clearly among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

Although we were founded as a development organization, the instability of conflict and displacement provides few opportunities for long-term planning. We started our work in the north and east as a humanitarian agency, providing emergency assistance to the Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim communities that were being displaced by conflict. As the situation changed, some areas stabilized, and we continued to work with the same communities as they resettled. Over the years, we developed a process for helping displaced communities transition from dependency on relief aid to self-reliance and sustainable development.

This approach is based on developing the institutional capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs), facilitating participatory planning and linking CBOs with the information, services and resources they need to meet their goals. During this time period, most of the communities we worked with had fairly similar interests. They wanted to strengthen their organizations, develop savings systems and revolving loan funds, rebuild community infrastructure like drinking water wells, irrigation systems and common buildings and resume their livelihood activities. Sewalanka also began to expand its support to isolated rural areas that had not been displaced by war.

As the CBOs in stable communities became stronger, they begin raising different kinds of issues and requesting new types of services. They spoke of problems like high input costs, low net profits, the exorbitant rates of local moneylenders, local trade monopolies and the unemployment of rural youth. Sewalanka tried to link these CBOs directly with rural banks, microfinance institutions, traders and other service providers, but there were many challenges, and it was clear that a more focused intervention was needed.

In 2002 a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. This created more space for long-term development initiatives, and Sewalanka began a strategic planning process that resulted in the decision to form two subsidiaries. Sewalanka Community Financial Services (Sewa Finance) was registered as a microfinance institution to provide wholesale financial services to strong community organizations, and Sewalanka Enterprise Development Company (SEDCO) was established as a social enterprise to assist with trade linkages, value chain investment and enterprise development services.

On December 26, 2004, a devastating tsunami struck the coasts of Sri Lanka. More than 35,000 people were killed and half a million were displaced. Sewalanka staff began responding the same day. Because of our experience with emergency relief and rehabilitation in the north and east, we were asked to expand our programs in the south of the country. All of our resources were mobilized, and for nearly two years, long-term initiatives were put on hold while we worked with the Government, civil society organizations and international agencies to help coastal communities in 11 districts recover from this natural disaster. In 2005, we received a Presidential award for our national role in the resettlement and livelihood rehabilitation process.

Sewalanka's workload, geographical coverage, and project team expanded rapidly after the tsunami. This growth brought new opportunities, but also new challenges. At the beginning of 2006, Sewalanka began an organizational self-assessment and restructuring process. (See Our Team and Structure) A new regional Field Director role was created to strengthen the impact, quality, and sustainability of Sewalanka's work in each region. Roles and responsibilities were clarified, and a Management Committee began to meet monthly to improve coordination and address unresolved operational issues.

At the national level, specialized program consultants were brought under a single umbrella to improve coordination and communication, a Research and Learning Unit was established to develop a system for monitoring and evaluation and organizational learning, a Human Resource Director was recruited and Finance and Administration procedures were streamlined and consolidated.

In mid-2006, the conflict in the north and east resumed. Although the affected areas again shifted their attention to short-term needs, development activities in other parts of the country continued. Since 2007, more attention has been focused on strengthening CBO development, livelihood support, Sewa Finance services, SEDCO initiatives and links with other service providers.

In September 2007, Sewalanka staff in the Wanni began working as volunteers under the Government Agent to assist the civilians trapped within the front lines of the fighting. In early 2008, displaced families in the north and east began arriving in transit camps in government controlled areas. Sewalanka has played a lead role in responding to their urgent needs for complementary food, shelter, water and sanitation facilities.

In April 2009, Sewalanka launched an emergency appeal to meet the overwhelming food, shelter, non-food relief items and water requirements of the displaced families in these transitional camps.