'Internationalising institutional and professional practices:
  Community partnership models of change in post tsunami Sri Lanka'

In the immediate aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, people living in the disaster affected areas of Sri Lanka were inundated with offers of assistance ranging from various individuals acting on behalf of major players like the United Nations, governments and non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations, to those undertaking disaster initiatives of a more independent nature.  In this ESRC funded research project we consider both the immediate and long term impacts of such interventions as instances of institutionalising practices on those living in disaster affected areas and those actively engaged in these.   Our preliminary definition of internationalising practices is one of exchanges of people, materials, and other resources that cross borders.  This is to enable respondents to define for themselves the specifics of which interactions occur, how and why.