The revival of ethnic amity

by Siripathy Jayamaha

In 1984, my wife, daughter aged 10, six-year-old son and I were on our way to Sri Lanka from Nigeria for the Christmas vacation. We were on a U.T.A. flight from Lagos to Paris and from there to Colombo.

My son was experiencing a severe stomach upset between Lagos and Paris and he was terribly dehydrated on arrival in Paris. It was early morning. Our Colombo flight was in the evening. My son wanted to be in the airport instead of going to a hotel offered by the UTA. He was having terrible nausea and we were helpless.

Suddenly a young Asian took our son into his arms, and motioning us to follow, hurried down to the basement. He said he was from Jaffna and was employed at the airport. We were at the medical centre in the basement.

He told the doctor about my son's ailment. The doctor wanted my son's clothes to be removed for a physical examination. The patient refused. The doctor was furious. The doctor would not treat him without a examination. Our friend brought us back to the ground floor.

He told us to wait and hurried out. He was back with apples, grapes, biscuits and drinks. He had also brought some tablets. He said in halting Sinhala. "Hondai, Putha drink this with the tablets". Our friend was with us till my son regained normalcy.

He took us round the magnificent Charles de Gaulle Airport. My little son was in raptures to see the planes taxing for take off above the terminal. We became instant friends. I spoke in Tamil and he in Sinhala. Ravi gave his address. He told me to drop him a line about our date and time of return. We sent him a 'Thank you' card, indicating our flight details.

We left with our tour guide, taking back beautiful memories where love and human bonds rose to celestial heights, making the word 'ethnicity' to shudder with shame. This then was in 1983. After 30 years of estrangement, blood and tears we are back on to an era whereby my gracious Sri Lankan host in France will never have to speak about his inability to offer his hospitality in his own motherland and my privilege in reciprocating his magnanimous gesture.