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As families return to villages deep in the Wanni, the Army conducts
classes for displaced children in a temple that bears the scars
of conflict
Roofless
shells of buildings covered with overgrown foliage bear mute testimony
to an abandoned village. But Avaranthulawa, in Cheddikulam, deep
in the Wanni, is slowly reawakening. Encouraged by the prevailing
peace, 21 families have returned here in the hope of rebuilding
their lives. Although it will be hard work to build new homes and
cultivate their lands once again, the villagers are happy to be
back after long years spent in refugee camps. In the premises
of the ruined temple, a little school was being conducted. Army
officers, Sgt. Udayakumar, Lance Corporals M.P. Pieris, P.P. Vijithalal,
U. Ranasinghe and Nandana, all A/L qualified and especially chosen
for the task, were teaching young children. There were no tables
or chairs, but two groups were sitting on mats under the trees intent
on their work. Inside the damaged temple building, two more classes
were in progress. Cpl. Pieris,
was teaching four pupils of the third grade. "We have no textbooks
but we teach them Sinhala, arithmetic and English with old textbooks
collected from our homes." Dulani Abeyratne,
9, said she had lived in a refugee camp at Ulukkulama before she
came to the village. Another nine-year-old, Chamila Chaturangani
said she is enjoying her lessons. They had been sent to Dharmapala
Vidyalaya when they were at the refugee camp, said Sanath Abeyratne,
12. "We did not have chairs or tables and we were not treated
well or taught properly there. We only learned what was on the blackboard.
Now we are happy. We are taught well by the army officers,"
the youngster said. Lt. Col. Ravindra
Wanninayake, Brigade Commander of 216 Brigade, said they started
the school for the children of Avaranthulawa to motivate the families
who have "We first
came here in 1942," recalled K.B. Kamala, one of the villagers.
"We set up the village and cultivated our lands. The cultivation
thrived and we lived well. There were two schools, a town nearby
with 22 shops. We also had the temple. Then in 1985, the LTTE came
to our homes and threatened us. They told us to leave on foot not
even in a vehicle, and to leave all our belongings behind." So they fled
with only the clothes they were wearing. They walked 15 miles to
the Joseph camp in Vavuniya and later army trucks collected those
who were hiding. Finally, about 2000 people from eight villages
were housed at a large temple in Vavuniya. Kamala said
they had returned to the village in 1988 but had to flee again in
a few months. Since then they had returned several times only to
have to go back to the camps. Each time, they put up temporary shelters.
"Now we have again put up temporary huts until we can get our
cultivation started," Kamala said. They have been promised
Rs. 15,000 within the week. Kamala is deeply
grateful to the army officers in the area for helping them with
transport and in other ways. "Above all we are thankful to
them for helping our children to be educated," Kamala said,
teary-eyed. "I am crying for happiness because these army officers
have understood our plight and are helping us to live," she
added. The resettlement
of the villages of the Pavatkulama colonies comes under the 216
Brigade, under the command of Maj. Gen. Gamini Jayasundera, of 21
Division. The closest army detachment led by Captain C.S.S. Dissanayake
has been given the task of assisting the villagers in their resettlement.
At a recent
meeting with the Assistant Government Agent (AGA), Avaranthulawa
was identified as the best village to start resettlement in the
area since people have already started moving back. The Grama Sevaka
too has settled there. Gampaha Minuwangoda Nilpanagoda Gnanasumana
Himi, the priest of Avaranthulawa has also returned to the temple,
which had been closed for 1 1/2 years. The army has cleaned the
abandoned wells, set up a police post and also conducted a medical
clinic. The Brigade Commander was confident that when Avaranthulawa
had been resettled, the other villagers too would start returning
to their homes. In 1980, Avaranthulawa
was populated by 400 Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim families. Apart from
the 41 families who were in the Ulukkulama refugee camp, the other
families are scattered over the Anuradhapura district. The Survey
Department has surveyed the land and demarcated plots for each family.
Temporary huts with cadjan have been put up by the villagers until
they can get their cultivations started. "We are getting wet
when it rains because our houses are built with decayed cadjans.
However, we are fed up with living in refugee camps. We thought
with the onset of the rains, we can start our cultivations so we
came back even before we got the official permission to return,"
one of the villagers said. "We are
getting the chena ready for planting," said N.H.J. Walter who
lives with his wife Podimenike in his cadjan hut. His children are
working in Anuradhapura. "We are growing grain and we will
be able to harvest in four months." His neighbour, Padmawathie's
children are married and live elsewhere. She and her husband are
also preparing their chena for planting. She has some goats and
a cow. Renuka and
Janaka Samarasinghe are happy to be back with their toddler Maduwanthi,
just 2 1/2. " She was only seven days old when we had to leave
the village in March 2000," Renuka said. The resettled villagers
will receive their dry rations for a period of six months until
they get on their feet. Rankethgama,
now known as Warikuttur, adjacent to Avaranthulawa, was a settlement
of 180 families. The village has now been reclaimed by the jungle.
The belfry of the temple can be seen over the trees. It is said
that the temple was built on the site of a 'purana vehera' or ancient
chaitya, the remains of which can still be seen. According to legend,
one of Dutugemunu's ten great warriors hid at Rankethgama with a
devi named Anula. It is said that wherever he hid in the area, he
built a temple. The priest
from Rankethgama, now living in Vavuniya intends to resettle in
the village soon as an encouragement to the villagers to return. The villages
in this area were settled under D.S. Senanayake's Pavatkulam colonisation
scheme. Some who left
their homes, have returned and started cultivating their lands.
About 45 minutes drive on the Mannar road, Avaranthulawa, Ranketgama,
now known as Warikuttur and Pallaiuruwa are being prepared for resettlement.
The bund of Rankethgama tank has been rehabilitated. An irrigation
canal also brings water from Pavatkulam tank for the cultivation.
The land is
fertile and well irrigated. Electricity has also been provided and
the road cleared. It only needs the villagers to come back and settle
to grow and produce. "We have spoken to several villagers and
they have agreed to go back before the rains," Lt. Col. Wanninayake
said. "We have re-assured them of their security." Another Tamil village in the area, Musalkutti, lies five miles off the Mannar Road, near Malwatuoya. De-mining of the road and surroundings is in progress in preparation for resettlement. Seven families waiting to be resettled, will be given Rs. 65,000 to build their homes in addition to the initial Rs.15,000 given on resettlement. Once the families are resettled, plans will be made to resume services such as transport and schools. Uneven
playing fields The matches
are invariably played on Sundays. The teams include Api Ekamutu
Kreeda Samaja, Nagena Hiru and Nawasuriya Kreeda Samajaya , Henemulla
Sooriya Samajaya' and 'Myruwa Kreeda Samajaya. The football teams
are the youth Kreeda Samaja and the United Sports Club comprising
Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim lads. They had volunteered to assist the
Mayor who had given instructions that the playground be improved.
We were discussing a good meal, a late lunch after the Shramadana. "The government
spent millions on the Asian Athletics Championships here, but they
do not worry about a playground for you all," I tell them.
"Aunty
don't say that. After all, the event was good for our country. If
only they will give us also a chance to show what we can do,"
says one youth, Asoka. Yes, simple
good words - words with a ring of hope raked through the debris
of their living conditions. No repressed bitterness - just hope.
"Aunty
our great benefactor Chaminda was shot dead at Peliyagoda,"
said another youth Ajith. "Benefactor!
He was known as the kudu karaya, heroin leader of the area,"
I reply. With tacit acceptance and no-attempt to dramatize his words
he says, "Yes but he was the only one who gave us our sports
equipment - the footballs, volleyballs, elle sticks, money for prizes,
and refreshment for the matches. He helped us. The youth will look
for another benefactor." Benefactors
are needed. Please contact Tel 520078 or write to, MoM Foundation
C/o NIPU 7/15 Sulaiman Terrace Col.5 The Mom (Memory
of Mother) Foundation has as its Founder Members: Lorna Wright,
Dr. Marina Refai, Dr. T. Kariyawasam, Lali Kobbekaduwa, Poo Duraiswamy,
Maureen Seneviratne and M.K. Ramzeen. |
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Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
returned.
Another 20 families now at Ulukkulama camp are preparing to come
back. 
