In the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s civil war (1983-2009), the main strategy pursued by the state to drive economic recovery and growth in the war-torn northern and eastern regions of the country was infrastructure development. While this was accompanied by livelihood development programmes, centred on micro-credit and micro enterprise to address poverty to some extent, the primary thrust in Btticaloa and Trincomalee districts of the Eastern Province remained focused on increasing connectivity and trade with the rest of the Island by demining, developing roads, railways, transport, electricity and water supply.