The Special Report

12th November 2000

And now refugee camps for Sinhalese in the hill country

Living in fear

Shane Seneviratne from Talawakelle

More than 150 people from 26 Sinhalese families displaced in the Talawakelle violence are stranded in temporary shelters in Talawakelle.

More than 10 displaced families are staying at the Saddharmaramaya. This temple which resembles a veritable refugee camp, has men sleeping along one side of the preaching hall and women along the other.

These villagers who made their livelihood in farming and business were once living successful lives. But now these families who lived in colonies such as the Troup Colony and Ekamuthugama in having nothing left as they fled their homes in the clothes they were wearing with no time to collect even their identity cards.

These refugees told us that before their houses were torched all their belongings were looted.

A refugee at the Saddharmaramaya, D.A.K. Mary (45) describing the events of that fateful day said, "We are living at the Troup colony. On the 29th night at about 11 we heard the sound of houses being attacked. When we came out we saw the houses at a lower elevation on fire So we all fled into the forest and hid. I saw the mobs looting my house before setting fire to it. I lost more than 10 lakhs. We remained in the forest till dawn . The police never sighted the area. Army personnel arrived at about 4.30 in the morning and took us to the temple.

"I feel the people who attacked our houses were from outside, and not Tamils from the village. We are afraid to return to our homes. We want an Army camp at Talawakelle, then at least we will feel safe. We have no faith in the Police," she said.

A leading businessman in the area S.K. Wijeratne (40) who suffered massive losses in the attack is a vehicle trader.

"My house, my shop, my bus and two vans were completely destroyed. I had not insured any of these things. My loss runs into more than 40 lakhs.

I used to live at Ekamuthugama Colony. In '86 there were 46 Sinhalese families living there. At the time of the attack there were only 10 families" he said.

Shanmugathasan (40), a farmer, said: "The mob which attacked my house and set fire to it came from other areas. Because my house was located amidst Sinhalese houses, they thought mine was a Sinhalese house too. Whoever did it , it was wrong.

The Sinhalese and Tamils here have been living as one family without conflict. The Sinhalese must return to their homes, which were burnt, and we must stay united to fight those who try to instigate violence," he said.

The chief incumbent of the Sri Saddharmaramaya Vihara at Talawakelle, Ven. Middeniye Soratha Thera said he believed the primary motive behind this attack was to chase away the Sinhalese people from the upcountry areas. "Houses of more than 20 Sinhalese families have been burned. We have no faith in the Talawakelle Police. The mobs attacked the shops in Talawakelle town while the police looked on.

"They must take responsibility for all that has happened. If these people are to return to the villagers where they lived they must have security. Therefore Talawakelle needs an Army camp.

If the police station is manned by men with a backbone then we can even manage without an Army camp," he said.

Meanwhile PA Pradeshiya Sabha member S.K. Premaratne said while a refugee family receives Rs. 300 worth of dry rations each week from the Divisional Secretariat the burnt houses would be rebuilt soon.

Shining star struck down

Twenty-two-year-old Nuwan Chamara Senanayake, a student of St. Anthony's, Katugastota passed the Advanced Level Examination with flying colours and qualified to enter the Medical Faculty of the Peradeniya University next year. Having become a victim of the violence, Nuwan, his mother S.K. Rani Sumanalatha (47) and his younger sister Manjula Sandamali Senanayake (20) are refugees at a school in the area, with little hopes of a future. Nuwan lost his father when he was a kid. Nuwan's mother had started a small shop in a room of their home determined to educate her two children and secure them a future. Accordingly, she was able to admit Nuwan Chamara to St Anthony's College in Katugastota after he performed well at the Year Five scholarship. The Senanayake family, which had so much hope for the future has now been struck by tragedy. However, Nuwan's mother has not given up hope for her children's future. She pleads not for food or clothing but to help in the education of her son Nuwan Chamara who is entering the Science Faculty next year and her daughter. The Diyawadane Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa Neranjan Wijeyaratne told The Sunday Times that the Buddhist Welfare Scholarship Fund has decided to award a scholarship to Nuwan Chamara. This announcement was made in response to a special request by The Sunday Times to assist in his education.

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