From Survival to Rebuilding
When the cyclone struck Sri Lanka, families lost more than homes.
They lost tools, stock, livestock, seed, access to water, and with it, the ability to earn.
We had an intensive 20 days have already done so much together, to bring needed food and essential items to families.
Now our focus shifts to the next critical step: helping families earn again, so they can stand again.
What We’ve Already Done, Together
In twenty days, our Palmera community responded with extraordinary speed and generosity.
- $350,000 AUD raised from the public from over 2,000 of you.
- 33,946 people reached
- 14 districts
- Immediate relief delivered—food, cooking utensils, shelter materials, and essentials
- In many areas, Palmera was among the first to respond
Why This Was Possible
Palmera is not an organisation that arrives after a disaster.
We were already there.
For over 20 years, Palmera has worked across rural Sri Lanka with deeply embedded local teams, village-based staff, and trusted community networks. When roads were blocked, communications down, and formal systems still mobilising, our teams were already assessing needs, purchasing supplies, and distributing support, because these are the same villages we work in every day.
That speed made the difference.
Why we are focusing on livelihood recovery and resilience
The Sri Lankan Government has released a significant and necessary recovery package for families affected by the cyclone. This includes support for housing, registered businesses, agriculture, and livelihoods, as outlined in the official government circular (Budget Circular No. 08/2025).
This support is critical, and it will help many families begin to rebuild.
At the same time, as with all large-scale recovery efforts, some households sit outside formal eligibility criteria, not because they are less affected, but because of how vulnerability is defined and documented.
This is where Palmera’s Livelihood Rebuilding Fund will come in.
Who This Phase Is Designed to Support
Our Phase 2 Livelihoods Fund is intentionally targeted, not to replace or critique government assistance, but to complement it by reaching families whose livelihoods are hardest to formalise, yet most fragile.
This includes:
- Micro and informal businesses that are too small or unregistered to qualify for formal compensation
- Families dependent on shared or minor irrigation systems, such as small tanks and canals, which are essential for survival but often fall outside major repair schemes
- Women-run enterprises operating from homes, markets, or roadside stalls with no formal documentation
- Households who received short-term relief, but now face extended periods without income as livelihoods slowly recover
Without targeted livelihood support, these families risk prolonged disruption—leading to increased debt, distress migration, or long-term dependency.
Our aim is simple:
to help ensure recovery efforts reach as fully and fairly as possible, so vulnerable families can rebuild their livelihoods and resilience alongside broader national recovery initiatives.
Why Palmera
Palmera works with depth, not distance. We are already in many of these communities with an expertise in economic development. We know who is left out and the way our funds can be used to make the biggest difference.
We don’t fund from afar—we verify, prioritise, and implement through local teams who know every household, every tank, every livelihood pathway. This allows us to ensure support reaches those who need it most, without waste or overlap.
In the first 20 days we proved what is possible when trust and proximity exist.
Now we will ensure that survival turns into stability.
Help Families Restart, Not Just Recover
The storm has passed.
But for thousands of families, the hardest part is just beginning.
If livelihoods are not restored now, the impact of this cyclone will last for years.
Stand with us.
Help families move from relief to rebuilding.
from survival to self-reliance.