|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 27 February 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Acts of heroism: Miracles in the making
by W. T. J. S. Kaviratne, Our Ambalangoda special correspondent
Ven. Veragoda Indrasara Thera of Kahawa Samarasingha Manthrirama Temple was able to save the lives of about 25 devotees, observing 'sil' within the temple precincts. He had gone to Kahawa junction to get a three-wheeler, and it was then that he heard the villagers shouting about a flow of sea water inland. This roused his curiosity. However, by the time he reached the Kahawa junction, the waters were receding. Before the second wave came with all its force, he ran, half a kilometre to the temple, and ordered the devotees to climb the dagoba, as the water level was rising. But some refused to climb, as they thought it sacrilegious. Ven Sumana Thera used their sil clothes and tied them firmly to trees saving their lives in the process. Even though, the temple, was located away from the rail track, sea water moved inland to more than a kilometre, and the temple was partially submerged. ****
T. H. Priyankara (29), a professional diver trained in life saving, was at Madampe, which was badly affected. Attempting to reach Peraliya, his home town through various byroads and he reached Metivala, Thelwatta at around 10.15 a.m. There he found the bridge washed away. Whole areas were under water and there were hundreds of people on both side of the bridge waiting to cross, but nobody was ready to take the risk of crossing against the strong flow of water. Metivala was the only safe village in the area were waiting to reach Metivala. Priyankara had made a makeshift bridge using strong ropes and two poles fixed across the canal and brought the people across to the adjoining village. After a while, he had made a successful attempt to swim towards the Telwatta temple. Several other able-bodied youngsters too had joined in the operation. Meanwhile, the rumour that even Telwatta temple was submerged had had more than three thousand villagers. He said that this was his greatest achievement and was humbled by the effort. ****
K. Lalith Priyantha (38), a resident of Peraliya, Telwatta, is the teacher-in-charge of Physical Education in a rural school at Thanamalwila. His house was at Telwatta, by the Galle Road. He rescued B. Mahesh (24) before the second wave. When he made inquiries about his brother, he came to know that he was severely wounded and was on a roof top at Peraliya. Using some high tension electric cables, Lalith made the connecting ropes stronger, and took his wounded brother to hospital. Keeping several people on planks, he rowed across the canal and took them to safety. An elderly patient was brought to Metivala on a plank, he said. In addition to these life saving attempts, Lalith came across three children who had survived the train mishap. Their father who thought them dead, as he had found body of his wife, had performed funeral rites for them too. But 3 days later, Lalith handed over the three children to the father. They were from Weligama, and it was an emotional handing over. **** M. Sanjaya Muthumuni (25) was making arrangements to conduct a rehearsal of a Dahampasal ceremony at Abaya Sriuwarenaramaya, temple at Thalgahapitiya, Kosgoda, when he got the message that a tidal wave had engulfed the area, he went towards the sea and found the water flowing about a 100-metres towards land. The beach stretch towards the Turtle Farm at Kosgoda was completely under water and no buildings were visible. As the water receded, he ran along the beach and on reaching the site of the Kosgoda Beach Resort, spotted a 'Three Wheeler'. The water was lashing out with all its fury on the boundary wall surrounding the Beach Hotel. While he climbed up the wall, he could see hundreds of foreigners running towards the main road. Sanjaya was able to get onto a concrete slab of a nearby restaurant and rescue a foreign couple. Many people, including the couple were being washed away. Through the coconut land, he was able to bring the foreign couple towards the Galle Road and save them, even though the water level was unusually high. ****
Ven. Sumana Thera of Telwatta Raja Maha Vihara describe how panic stricken villagers were running towards the temple. In a short time the whole temple appeared like a sea of heads. The survivors of the train who had come to the temple were of the view that more passengers could be rescued, but nobody was willing to take the risk, as constant announcements were being made for people not to move to low-lying areas. The Thera said that he ignored these warnings and went upto the site of the train accident, accompanied by the people and rescued about 10 to 15 passengers. All those who arrived at the Rajamaha Vihara of Telwatta were given king coconut water to quench their thirst. There was a shortage of dry rations to feed the nearly 3,500 people who had taken refuge at the temple. Drinking water was brought from Metivala using rafters and given to the refugees. ***
S. Torin (43), employed at the Ambalangoda Post Office followed a training course on life saving methods, and he put to use what he had learnt. When he was on the Galle Road he saw a flash of the first tidal wave. Later, he saw the sea receding, exposing the sea bed upto Gendawana a rock found about 200 metres away in the deep sea. He claimed that he could see a wall of around 6-7 feet high near Gendawana. During the second wave, some vehicles were caught in the flow of the water. He quickly obtained life saving jackets and some ropes from the Ambalangoda Police, and with the help of Police Constables, S. W. Kaniska and A. H. Sanjaya, threw the rope towards the people who were struggling in the sea, and was thus able to rescue them. A person found around 500 metres away in the sea was rescued. In addition, a girl of 14, K. Ruvini of Unawatuna was also rescued, he said. Ruvini was a passenger of a bus that had been washed into the sea. She was rushed to Polwatta Hospital where she was identified by her father,. Torin said. ****
Piyal Kodithuwakku (31), a resident of Kahawa was waiting at the main bus-stand in Galle, to start his morning trip to Colombo. Hearing the screams of people, he drove the bus to a safer area, instead of proceeding on his normal route. On seeing a regular traveller, near the bridge he slowed down for her, and a crowd of over 50 people boarded the bus. He was able to save the lives of all of them. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
Some of the survivors of the tsunami have either been miraculously
saved by people who risked their own lives, or by people who were on the
verge of death, but drew on their inner strength and worked out a miracle
to save others from the killer waves. We mark the two-month anniversary of
the devastation by highlighting the selfless acts of heroism of these
unsung heroes.
