This paper describes and analyses the pattern of descent,
marriage and household organization shared by Muslims and Tamils
in the town of Akkaraipattu in the matrilineal belt of Sri
Lanka, the Tamil-speaking, eastern coastal region. This
publication documents the unique customary land holding patterns
in the East of Sri Lanka which became invisible from national
policy discussions on resettlement following the tsunami
disaster of 2004 as well as advocacy efforts by the Women’s
Coalition for Disaster Management (WCDM) based in Batticaloa
which raised awareness about women’s right to land both at the
community and at the policy implementation levels. This report
presents the findings of a study supported by UNIFEM and
coordinated by the Center for Women’s Research in the period
March – September 2005. The research for the study was done by
seven women’s organizations who linked with their partner
community based organizations in six districts affected the
tsunami. The report addresses in particular household tr