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The last to be hit and least spoken about
The plight of Negombo’s Wellaweediya residents is no different from others who were hit by the December 26 catastrophe, reports Apsara Kapukotuwa

Hambantota, Galle, Ampara, Batticaloa…..but Negombo? No, Negombo does not come to mind when one talks of the tsunami. It was one of the last coastal towns to be hit by the giant waves.

Though they may have not had a high number of human casualties in the terrible December catastrophe that shook Sri Lanka, the beach residents of Wellaweediya in Negombo not only lost everything they owned but also their means of livelihood in the tsunami.

Now ‘housed’ on the land side, just a hop, step and jump away from the ruins of their previous residences, 129 families, just like thousands of Sri Lankans affected directly by the Boxing Day tsunami, try to make the little makeshift tents, where they live in cramped conditions, their ‘home’. Some families have little gardens, lovingly tended, though there is hardly any space to move around, let alone beautify their environment.

Though facilities seem scarce, many of the youngsters at Wellaweediya camp seem happy enough with their lot, though the elders speak of feeling ‘trapped and imprisoned’.

The Wellaweediya camp, with its 290 male and 279 female residents, has 25 makeshift toilets and two public kitchens. About 18 tanks have been built to supply water for the displaced. Some 86 families reside in tents and the rest in ‘rooms’ set up in the partly-built Fisheries Training College building adjoining the tent space.

P. Vishwa (16) tells me he does not mind where he is living now and says he has left school without completing his studies to “go out to sea”. Wasanthi Leela Fernando, 30, tries to make the best out of the situation, though she confesses she is constantly afraid for the future of her two daughters and infant son.

Then there are others like Ravi Fernando, a fisherman, who has also set up a small boutique in the compound. His wife who looks after the boutique is busy enough looking after three-year-old Diana and eight-year-old Inoka, a student of the St. Sebastian’s Junior School, just 100 metres away. Most of the children under 14 years, living at the camp go to this school. The others go to St. Peter’s College, also in the neighbourhood. The children are also entertained and kept away from mischief by aesthetic activities, promoted and encouraged by Gerard Peter, Assistant Editor of Meepura Puwath, a regional newspaper.

When we visited the camp site last Tuesday, the Grama Sevaka was busy with officials of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) sprucing up a section of the site, which he stated was for ‘temporary shelters’. Those like Mary Princy Mallika have no desire to be kept in these ‘shelters’ any longer, stating that they did have the deeds to their houses which were 10 metres away from the sea. “It’s really hard living in such close quarters. The children easily catch illnesses like fever and measles,” she says adding that her only hope is to move in with her brother and his family to a house of their own once again.

Father Clement Rosairo of St. Sebastian’s Church, Negombo fears for the future of these hapless fisherfolk, and tries his best to keep them away from the vices that have plagued their community. Drug abuse has been rampant in Wellaweediya and matters have not improved since the tsunami. But the response these people have received from the authorities has been nothing more than lukewarm.

“It was two days ago that renewed interest was shown on the part of the government. While it is true that the Government does take care of the food and the Rs. 5000 payment is given, the biggest threat for these people is security,” says Fr. Rosairo adding that the women and the children, especially, should be protected since drug and alcohol abuse among the men in such a closed environment invariably leads to many problems.

Fr. Rosairo was also disheartened by the scant interest shown by the police in maintaining law and order in this area. The priest says it is with the aid of foreigners and donations from interested parties that certain other requirements of these camp residents are met. A plot of land near the church has been bought with the intention of putting up 35 permanent houses; Fr. Rosairo admits it would be a difficult task allocating these houses but said that those ‘going out to sea’ would be given preference.

Refuting allegations regarding Government mismanagement and disinterest, Grama Sevaka A.D.N. Attanayake, who is based at the camp site, says one of the major drawbacks in working towards aiding the camp residents is the interference by area politicians and organizations.

“There were instances earlier where the list on which aid was given did not include some of those who were really affected,” said Mr. Attanayake, pointing out that the short deadlines given for the compilation of lists and the lack of coordination and cooperation among various interested parties led to this problem.

But, for the families in Wellaweediya, like in other tsunami-hit areas, the question remains: when will they have a proper roof over their heads, a place they can really call ‘home’.

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