|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 6 February 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Life with William : He launches 'relief operation' by Carol Aloysius When the tsunami disaster occurred on December 26 William was still in deep mourning for the loss of his two pets, Dog and Hen who had died within a month of each other.
A methodical man by nature, his first task was to enlist the services of voluntary help karayas, for a shramadana campaign, beginning of course with his five friends, Pancha, Dias, Simon, Piyasena and Gamage. The six of them would meet at the garage behind our house every evening at six, once they had finished their respective chores. Here, they would pool their ideas as to how they could get their operation under way, with William writeing down the minutes of the meeting in his tattered note book. Since the meetings generally continued long after 9 p.m, William unfailingly served his friends several cups of tea from a large flask and snacks which he had turned out in the kitchen before the meeting began. Our dinner, which he had prepared in the early part of the evening and was thus invariably cold, was a hastily assembled affair, usually an "all purpose curry" as he described it, which could be cooked within minutes so that William could make it to his meeting in time. When my son protested, Man Friday sternly told him, Oba vasanavanthai tsunamiyen vipathata path noveemata (You must consider yourself lucky you aren't a tsunami victim). As the deadline for his proposed shramadana campaign drew near, Man Friday and his five friends, began enlisting supporters. They would set out every morning to their favourite haunts down the lane and head to the Mariakade Market where they would confront potential help karayas. William would then whip out his note book on which he had written the words 'Operation Tsunami' and tell them, Memapunya kriyavata sahabagya veemen, nivansuvaya balaporoththu haki vei, (If you support this cause you will attain nirvana soon), - an argument few could resist. Having finally worked out their plan of strategy, William invited me to have a look at what they had planned to do. I was impressed to say the least. Under the caption 'Top Priority', William had jotted down in spidery letters several chores that were to be performed; such as; cleaning wells, clearing debris, providing safe drinking water, bedding and cooking utensils". "Excellent", I said." But how do you propose to put all this into action?" "We have managed to recruit over fifty persons many of them were street urchins who lived down the lane and in the vicinity who William had promised, in return, to recruit his new play on the tsunami, while the rest were street vendors at the Mariakade market. Two of our friends who own lorries have also promised to take us to the tsunami affected areas where we hope to do some shramadana work", he said. To put his plan into operation, William also sent out a hat collection to raise money for the lorry hire and of course provisions and other items to be distributed to the victims. "Make sure that all these provisions and other items reach the right hands - i.e. the truly deserving persons living in welfare centres", I advised him. To which his reply was, Nona, mama siyaluma kata yuthu nisi lesa sudanam kara atha (I have planned everything out methodically. Don't worry). William was able to raise both cash and goods in a remarkably quick time. Then, asking me leave for an 'indefinite period' dina niyamayak nathuwa, they left for their destination in two overcrowded lorries, jam packed with a motley crowd of helpers dressed in banyan and loin cloth carrying spades, buckets, dry provisions and bedding. It is now four days since my Man Friday has gone. I am now once more in the kitchen having taken over William's chores, albeit for an "indefinite period". But, to reiterate William's words, "it's all for a worthy cause (okkoma honda vadakata). |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
It was only when he finally emerged from his period of mourning that he
realised the true extent of the tragedy that killed thousands and left
many more homeless. Shaken to the core, he immediately made his own plans
to help the survivors of the tsunami disaster.
