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Lessons in a tent
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi
It is midday and lessons are on - some under shady trees and others in blue tents pitched in the huge playground. It's hot and dusty and the children are weary. This is Gintota Maha Vidyalaya, just three kilometres from Galle, dubbed a 1AB school because it boasts of Advanced Level classes for all three streams - science, commerce and arts.

And like everything beyond Kalutara, the tsunami has left its mark and taken its toll here. For when the school opened on January 27 and it was time for roll-call for the 2,069 boys and girls and 76 teachers, the tsunami's deadly hit was felt once again. Five children and two teachers would never be seen in school.

One little girl who had been caught in the tsunami had been swept by the monstrous waves to the school grounds where she had played so freely before. "Her body was found here," says Principal S.R. Chandrasena sadly, adding that nearly 400 students were affected, with their houses being washed away. Nine students have lost their mother or father.

Six of the thirteen school buildings including the science lab have also been destroyed, with the sea taking in its ferocious grasp almost all the precious documents.

"We opened on January 17 to do a clean-up because there was a lot of debris and began lessons on January 27," said the Principal adding that UNICEF and Red Cross provided the tents, while UNICEF also provided poth path. He speaks with appreciation of the many groups who gave of their time and energy to clean up the school and get it running again. "The water supply was affected and we have got a temporary supply," says the Principal, lamenting, "Siyalla vinashayi. Lamai manasikawath wetila inne."

Soon after the tsunami and before school started, the Principal began his rounds, going from damaged home to home and camps housing the displaced, collecting information about "his children and teachers".

One teacher who died had 32 years teaching science, particularly the A/L class and the other was close to retirement, says a teacher with tears in her eyes, hardly able to control her emotions.

Many children are pleading that the school be moved inland, as they are terrified of the sea, says Principal Chandrasena, pointing how close the now tranquil ocean is, just across Galle Road. "Now we can see the sea well because the row of houses that used to block our view is gone, taken by the tsunami. The Gin Ganga too is very close."

A walk around the tent-school shows smiling children eager to talk and have their picture clicked. Most of the students are either barefoot or with rubber slippers. A few have "crocodile mouth" shoes, with the sole flapping free from the top part of the shoe. Most of them are managing with one uniform and a few books, pens and pencils.

The children and the teachers are slowly and painfully attempting to come to terms with the "bolt" from the blue that has left their lives and those of near and dear ones shattered. They need all the help we can give them to resume a semblance of normalcy.

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