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| Sunday, 9 January 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Spirit of caring and sharing They moaned, cried, cancelled celebrations, lent their labour, showered food, clothing and other utilities - and, some even gave their lives. In the wake of the disaster created by the marauding tsunami waves, the spirit of unity, gallantry and caring for others is being awakened in the Sri Lankan society.
Gregory Christy is no more. The 32 year old father of three from Modara, Colombo 15, was fishing in the shallows when it all happened. Standing guard, with his attention focused on the fish that would get attracted to his bait, he could not see the transformation of his beloved sea. Beauty turned beast/monster, all of a sudden it swelled up submerging him and the rows of houses on the beach. An adept swimmer, Christy was reaching ashore when a little child caught his attention - struggling and being dragged into the sea by a strong current. Not sparing even a second for an afterthought Christy was back in the sea after the child. "When we found the bodies, he was carrying the child in one hand," says a neighbour. Christy could not make it to the shore the second time. The force of the deadly third wave was beyond his strength. Deadly force Christy laid down his life trying to save another's. "What is there to be done now? I am not angry with him for going back to help that poor child. He did the right thing," says S. Sulochana, his wife holding two of her three sons, seven-year-old Kristy Leonard and five-year-old Antony Dulshan. Such generosity of spirit! Whom can you get it from, if not from those who suffered together, the catastrophe of the tsunami. So sudden. "It was so sudden there was no time to warn anyone. All I could do was run, dragging my two children and whoever was left behind by others," says Anita Fernando, from Bokku Watte, Modera. Adults grabbed the children, irrespective of whose children they were and whisked them to the safety of the St. John the Baptist Church, on higher grounds. Next the men and youth went in search of whoever was left. "If not for their help, we would also be among the thousands of the dead today," says Anita. "How can you say 'No'? They are my neighbours - those who flock around when I am in trouble," says Gerty Gomez another resident in Modera. She housed over a 100 neighbours, along with her family in her second storey, which is barely about 180 square feet, including the balcony. "The children were crying and all of us were hungry. We managed with whatever was in the house and sought shelter in the church in the evening." If not for the neighbours and private companies and those non-affected, who chipped in with their assistance, it would not have been possible to help and manage a temporary shelter which housed over 3,000 persons says Fr. Sudath Silva, Parish Priest of the St. John the Baptist Church, Modera. Commendable job Two weeks after the tsunami, they keep feeding over 500 people, with the assistance from different quarters. Around 675 affected by the tsunami have to start their lives from scratch, he says. Some had lost their cooking utensils. Eighty five families had lost their houses completely. The first week was very taxing, but the youth movement and social workers of the church did a commendable job, from dawn to midnight, most of the time without food or drink, he says. Despite the havoc created and the loss of lives and property claimed by the tsunami, it awakened the spirit of comradeship, gallantry and caring for each other lying dormant in Sri Lankan society. Modera, Colombo 15 is only one area which felt the force of the tsunami waves. Stories of empathy and generosity of spirit are flowing in from all corners of the country. Nishantha and Ruwanga from Panadura were two youth who also risked their lives trying to rescue the lives of others. "We went there to take a look at the receding sea," says Ruwanga. But, when the wave came they joined the rest of the escapees. "Suddenly we saw an old woman floating on a bed. She was begging for our help. Luckily the water was not very deep so we jumped in and brought her out," say the duo. Neil Silva from Moratuwa had his handsfull in his rescue efforts. He had to carry both his son and nephew to safety. Dragging his son by the hand he carried his nephew. But lost the child when debris stuck and he lost his grip on his own son. Kishani and Bimal (not their real names) from Nugegoda were honeymooning in the central hills when disaster struck. "I was over-awed by the scenes on the hotel's big screen," says Bimal. They were thinking of friends and relatives who might fall into the category of casualties. "Fortunately, none of our immediate family were affected," says Kishani. But, the next thing the couple's respective parents heard was that Bimal and Kishani wanted to cancel their home-coming celebrations due to be held at a Colombo hotel. They are waiting for the reimbursement of their money, to donate it towards the reconstruction of houses. Many a relative and friend opened their homes to their loved ones. "There are six families in our house," says a staffer in a sister paper. Two weeks after disaster struck, some still house, feed and cloth their relatives and friends not wanting them to go to government shelters. Contributions "We can take care of them. Everyone who visits us bring something like biscuits, milk powder, sugar, tea and fruits," says Rita Perera from Moratuwa. Living in close proximity to the disaster struck area, she had taken in three families of relatives and friends to care for. Her extended family and many friends support her, says Rita. Rishad and friends from Thalawatugoda had spent most of their time since the tsunami, providing labour for clearing operations. They have been working in Kalutara and Beruwela areas. "Because we have friends in the area," says Rishad. They hope to continue helping people even after the school starts. "Many of our friends volunteered to work in television stations, but we went there because we had already lost a friend who lived in the area," he says. The spirit of caring and sharing rekindled in the hearts of Sri Lankans during the time of disaster is also commended by foreign journalists, some who had been in the country at the time and faced the diaster themselves. - VSF |
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