Over the last decade the SFFL grew from a small NGO into a relative big federation covering more than 231 fisher communities in 5 districts of Sri Lanka. Since 1994 Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) has been funding the activities of SFFL, including more than 10 different projects (not counting the relief and rehabilitation activities of the Tsunami) As the Federation is still expanding both SFFL and TdH NL recognized the need for restructuring their activities. Previously it was decided that the different programmes, including the Social Economic Resource Centres (SERCs), will be systematically arranged into 5 targeted districts Puttalam, Matara, Hambanthota, Monaragala and Ampara. For each district a detailed, comprehensive, result based development plan will be devised, based on context analysis and baseline data. The plan will include, among others, a logistical framework based on a clear intervention strategy, a schedule of activities, a detailed budget and a monitoring framework.

The reorganization of the programmes and organizational structure will not include the relief and rehabilitation activities funded by TdH NL (which are estimated to be concluded by the end of 2006) and will not include the rural aquaculture development and coastal resource conservation programmes implemented by the SFFL, but funded by other donors. Neither the Yala gate Hotel School ----- the boatyards and the Welani orphanage. In 2006 the Federation was restructured to provide more professional services to the fishing community through their district development plans. These development plans include the vision, mission, organizational structure and strategy of the Small Fishers Federation. In addition the development strategies for the districts the development strategy in the five districts will be the same, but the programmes and activities will be adjusted according to the specific needs of each district. For each of the districts, a problem analysis will be conducted and a logical framework of the objectives and activities will be defined.