Sri Lanka – Damayanthi Lee

For over 25 years, the war caused significant hardships for the population, environment and the economy of the country with an initial estimated 80,000–100,000 people killed during its course. In 2013, the UN panel estimated additional deaths during the last phase of the war: "Around 40,000 died while other independent reports estimated the number of civilians dead to exceed 100,000."

On 26 December 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami struck Sri Lanka, killing more than 35,000 people and leaving many more homeless. A great deal of aid arrived from around the world but because of the war, there was further challenges to implement disaster relief.

These combined issues have left Sri Lanka in such a state that it has been difficult even though there is now peace in the country, to implement restoration activities.

Dama has a vivid mission to restore the health of her people. By returning to her family land, she is building a clinic and Moringa farm to revitalize her village and be an example to the rest of the country.