tsunami

Having left Colombo late on Sunday we stayed overnight in Habarana and reached Mullaitivu, around mid morning the following day.   After a brief visit to the Kachcheri we went on to the coast.    Even one month after the event, the total devastation that we saw, en route and then on the coast, reiterated the force of the water that had come in and its effect. Fortunately, the rain, which had hampered the relief effort in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami, had washed away the black sludge that had come in with the water. 

Bundles of broken palmyrah and other debris lay all around.  Strips of cloth torn off the bodies of people; broken boats and fishing nets lay around; buildings destroyed; a shell of what had been the Mullaitivu Post Office; and just the foundation of the GA’s bungalow – the walls having collapsed; and in front of what had been the gate to the bungalow, the coast road had been washed away.  All that remained of the road was a small elevation, and the top of a lamppost. An old receipt book of the Mullaitivu Post Office, with the print still to be read, from way back in 1996 lay on the beach, one of the few items that survived the waters.   A single loader was clearing the bricks and rubble.  We were told that in fact the coastline had receded since the event.  The Kachcheri Building had been protected by an old building behind it and so although the water had come in there had been no permanent damage. 

Items that had been sent ahead by Manitha Neyam needed to be distributed.  We met the GA who advised that there was a plan to provide temporary housing (estimated at Rs.40,000/-) to all IDPs and thereafter to provide permanent housing that was estimated to cost around Rs.500,000/-. Ms. Arani – an AGA, had arranged for us to visit the camp at a school in Mulliyavalai.   At the camp, Kitchen Utensils & other utility items for 1,000 families were handed over for distribution to the relevant persons as and when they moved back to their homes; while bags of Milk Food were handed over to Seva Lanka for distribution.  Thereafter toothpaste and tooth brushes were distributed at the adjacent camp, which accommodated around 325 families.  The process seemed efficient with each resident being in possession of a card that entitled them to participate in the distribution; there also appeared to be a healthy atmosphere among those present.  Unfortunately time did not permit us to spend more time with the residents. 

It was late afternoon when we left Mullaitivu for Killinochchi.  The road was bad and rutty; and the under carriage of the van suffered damage but fortunately we got through to Killinochchi.

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