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| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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15 families forced to take refugee in a cemetery : Living among the dead by Jayantha Sri Nissanka
The families, all victims of the December 26 tsunami, lost kith and kin and everything they owned. Moving into temporary shelters, first at a temple, and then at school, they had not realised worse was to follow, until they were forced into the streets. Left with no recourse, the families were compelled to pitch up tents at the Patabadimulla cemetery in Ambalangoda. You can see huts built on graveyards, children playing in the sand atop recent graves, blissfully ignorant of what is underneath. They cook and eat in the same place, and the men sleep in the crematorium building floor as they find it difficult to sleep in the huts due to the heat. Need being the driving force, the families give little thought to their macabre surroundings and say they don't want anything from the Government other than a place to live. They say that the men in every family can take care of the food and clothing needs but are unable to build houses without some form of support. After the tsunami destroyed their houses on December 26, the families had sought refuge at the Sangaraja Mahaviharaya in Ambalangoda. But as there were not enough space for the 100 odd families rendered destitute by the tsunami some had been moved to the nearby Dharmashoka Maha Vidyalaya, a leading school in the area. After the school was reopened they were asked to leave.
Thereafter, Additional District Secretary B.K.S. Ravindra had tried to settle them at another two-acre land belonging to the Urban Council. The Ambalangoda Urban Council Chairman G.M.S. de Silva had however promised to built huts for them. But so far not a single hut has been build on this land. Since every one was protesting against their stay in temporary huts, the victims had no option but to move into cemetery since they believed that dead people would not protest against their presence. AGA Ravindra says he can build huts for these families in two week if the Chairman hands over the land to him. But the Chairman claims that he can also build huts in two weeks. The tug of war between the two parties continue while the 15 families languishing in the cemetery they moved into on January 27. A Mother of teenage student complains that her daughter is reluctant to go to school as other students joke at her saying that "a ghost is coming from the cemetery". Pushpa Shanthi who is living in the cemetery with four children says that she does not ask anything from the authorities other than a house. She says her husband can feed the family without burdening the Government but he cannot purchase a land and build a house for the family, as they have lost their means to an income. These victims also complain that less attention has been paid to them by authorities so far. They say that only Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse visited them. They blame the Urban Council Chairman for not visiting them even once. But when contacted, the UC Chairman denied the allegation and blamed the families for their plight. The families say they can live in the cemetery until the rough sea start in April. Thereafter, all these huts will fly in the strong wind. They are wondering how to save their huts in April. M. Kapila says that he never thought he would have to come to the cemetery while he is alive. He feels sorry about his life and wonders why he was born in a country like Sri Lanka where authorities only pay lip service for poor people. He prays that he will not born in Sri Lanka again. M. Renuka says that her two-year-old child is sick very often after her family moved into the cemetery. When asked whether they are not afraid to spend the night, she says that before she come to the cemetery she had that feeling, but now realise that dead people are better than the one who are living. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
The cemetery is the final resting place for most, irrespective of social
status, be it a President or pauper. Not many, no matter how prime its
location, look at a cemetery as a place of residence. But 15 fisher families
from Ambalangoda, rendered destitute by the tsunami, cast adrift by the
callous attitudes of those in positions of authority, and desperate for a
place to rest their weary bodies, have been forced to set up camp at a
cemetery and call it home. 
Then, officials at the Divisional Secretariat had tried to settle these
families in a two-acre land at the Prajapathi School. But the teachers and
students had protested against the setting up of temporary huts for these
people. 
